ALL IN THE FAMILY
ED FLYNN: FATHER-SON PUBLIC SERVICE

Congratulations to Ed Flynn, who was elected President of the Boston City Council in January 2022.

A popular community activist and youth sports coach, the South Boston native is carrying on a proud family tradition of public service, following in the footsteps of his father, Ray Flynn, who was a Boston City Councilor and state representative before becoming Mayor of Boston and U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican.

Ed served in the U.S. Navy for 24 years, both on active duty and in the reserves, and was in the Navy’s 5th Fleet and Joint Task Force Guantanamo.  A Veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, he helped coordinate relief efforts in Haiti.  He worked for the U.S. Department of Labor, and has long championed health care, affordable housing, jobs, transportation and public safety, while also advocating for strong labor unions and immigration reform.

Ed Flynn, Boston City Council President

"When Irish immigrants arrived in Boston and the United States during the Great Famine in the 1840s, they were not welcomed, and faced struggles and discrimination,” Flynn says. “Because of this painful past, the Irish community understands the important role that government and social services play in supporting our cities and towns across America. The Irish community continues to contribute to our country in sectors such as in the military, business, building trades and organized labor, and is a critical advocate for social and economic justice for all."

His lifelong neighbor Congressman Stephen Lynch called Flynn, “a true champion for America’s working families” while praising his commitment to ensuring “that Veterans and their families receive the care and benefits that they have earned.”

Ed and his wife Kristen are the proud parents of Caroline and Stephen.