Felix G. Arroyo

Arroyo is the son of former Boston City Councilor Felix D. Arroyo. He attended Boston public schools and is a graduate of University of Massachusetts Boston.^[1] He also earned a master's degree from Southern New Hampshire University.^[2] Prior to being elected to the Boston City Council, Arroyo served as a field director at Northeast Action and Political Director for the Service Employees International Union Local 615.

When he was twenty, Arroyo started working as the director of constituent services for Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner.^[3]

 

Arroyo was an at-large member of the Boston City Council from January 2010 to January 2014. During his time on the City Council, he developed legislation called "Invest in Boston" to invest Boston's money in banks that invest in Boston to help promote economic development.^[4] He led the effort on the council to save thousands of youth summer jobs and prevent the closures of libraries.^[5][6] In partnership with fellow councilor Michael P. Ross, Arroyo attempted to have the city to cancel contracts with companies based in the state of Arizona after Arizona adopted Arizona SB 1070 in 2010.^[7] Arroyo did not seek reelection to the council in 2013, instead seeking election as mayor.

In April 2013, Arroyo announced his candidacy for the Boston mayoral election.^[8] He officially kicked off his campaign on June 15, at Villa Victoria.^[9] Arroyo lost in the September preliminary election, having received 9,888 votes and finishing fifth in a field of 12, where the top two vote-getters advance to the November general election.

After being eliminated, he endorsed Marty Walsh in the general election.^[10]

In January 2014, Mayor Marty Walsh named Arroyo as the Chief of Health and Human Services for Boston. Arroyo was the first Cabinet-level position announced by the newly elected mayor.^[11] Walsh cited Arroyo's ability to bring people together and work collaboratively, as well as his understanding of the importance of addressing the needs of Boston's most vulnerable population.^[11]

On July 28, 2017, Arroyo was placed on paid administrative leave from his position at the Boston Department of Health. Although this was confirmed by Mayor Walsh, no further details were made available.^[12] On August 24, 2017, a spokesperson for Mayor Walsh announced that Arroyo had been fired after a "comprehensive investigation" into sexual harassment allegations.^[13] Arroyo's accuser initially filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD); that complaint was withdrawn in November 2017, in lieu of a civil suit against Arroyo and the City of Boston filed in March 2018.^[14] As of February 2020^[update], the case was still active and had not yet gone to trial.^[15] In August 2020, Arroyo filed suit against the City of Boston and Mayor Walsh alleging breach of contract, negligence, and defamation.^[16] A May 2024 trial scheduled for the civil suit brought by Arroyo's accuser was not held due to the parties reaching an agreement—in July 2024, The Boston Globe reported that the City of Boston had agreed to a $1 million settlement with Arroyo's accuser in exchange for litigation being dropped.^[17] A defamation countersuit filed by Arroyo against his accuser was not affected, and is scheduled for trial in June 2025.^[17]

Arroyo is a lifelong Bostonian, born in the South End, raised in Hyde Park, and a graduate of the Boston Public Schools. He lives in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. In addition to his father having previously served on the Boston City Council as an at-large member, his brother Ricardo Arroyo was the councillor for District 5 from January 2020 to January 2024.^[18] As of November 2020^[update], Arroyo's LinkedIn profile listed his occupation as Chief Operating Officer at El Mundo Boston, a Latino media outlet.^[19]

• Johnson, Akilah; Irons, Meghan E. (November 20, 2014). "What happened to those who ran for Boston's mayor". The Boston Globe.

• Arroyo's mayoral campaign website from April 2013 via Wayback Machine