With Charlestown’s Help, Ryan Easily Takes Rep. Nomination

Charlestown’s Dan Ryan with a supporter in the neighborhood on Election Day Tuesday.

Charlestown resident Dan Ryan easily won the Democratic Nomination for the Second Suffolk District State Representative seat during Tuesday’s special election. With no Republican challenger Ryan will head into the General Election unopposed as formality but after Tuesday’s victory he will be the next state rep to serve Charlestown and Chelsea at the State House.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to serve the good people of Chelsea and Charlestown in this new role,” said Ryan after his win at the Knights of Columbus Hall. “The position of State Rep will allow me to work more closely with these two communities as we define our future.”

District-wide Ryan trounced the opposition and topped the ticket with 2,290 votes. Finishing second to Ryan was Chelsea’s Roy Avellaneda who was over a thousand votes behind with 1,160. Charlestown’s Chris Remmes rounded out the election with only 438.

In Charlestown Ryan topped the ticket with 2,071 votes followed by Remmes with 359 votes. Avellaneda rounded out voting in the neighborhood with 122 votes. Ryan ended Election Night with 80% of the vote in Charlestown and received as high as 89% of the vote in some precincts.

In Chelsea Avellaneda topped the ticket with 1,038 votes but was hoping to snag 2,000 from voters there but fell short. Ryan received 219 votes in Chelsea followed by Remmes with 79 votes.

City Councilor Sal LaMattina, who endorsed Ryan for the seat left vacant by Rep. Eugene O’Flaherty, congratulated his former political rival. O’Flaherty, a Chelsea resident who held the seat for 17 years has left the State House to become corporate counsel for the City of Boston. The seat includes Charlestown and a majority of Chelsea.

“I want to congratulate Dan, his family and all his supporters on their victory Tuesday night,” said LaMattina who represents Charlestown at City Hall. “I’ve worked with Dan closely over the years and I think he is the best person for this job. He has a passion for public service and will not disappoint the people of Charlestown and Chelsea. The voters on Tuesday have made a great choice having Dan represent them at the State House.”

Ryan’s victory brings the seat back to Charlestown for the first time since the late 1970s. Jimmy Collins won the seat back in 1977. In 1978 the seat was redistricted and Chelsea’s Richie Voke ousted Collins. The seat has been held by Chelsea residents ever since.

Prior to working for U.S. Congressman Michael Capuano as his chief aide, Ryan spent ten years working at the Charlestown Boys and Girls Club where he served as director of the Teen Center and program coordinator for the Healthy Charlestown Coalition.

“I am thrilled for Dan and his family,” said Capuano. “Dan and I have worked together over the years on so many issues from transportation to veterans services and I know that he will work hard to represent the interests of Charlestown and Chelsea”.

Ryan and his wife, Kara Segal-Ryan, are raising their three children in Charlestown.