The city of Boston is witnessing a compelling election cycle as the seat for District Seven opens up following the resignation of incumbent Tania Fernandes Anderson, who has pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges.
District Seven is known for its rich diversity, including iconic Black strongholds like Roxbury, as well as parts of Dorchester, the South End, and the Fenway.
According to Census Reporter, an independent US Census Bureau data visualization platform, of the roughly 78,000 residents in the district, about 25,000 are Black, 20,000 Hispanic, and around 20,000 white.
With Anderson’s upcoming resignation, the race is heating up with at least six candidates vying for her position: Said Abdikarim and Said Ahmed, both Somali immigrants who have expressed their intention to run against Anderson since last year; Hurtado; Mavrick Afonso, a Cabo Verdean American involved in housing policy for Governor Maura Healey’s administration; Tchad Cort, a Black woman who has deep roots in Roxbury and is employed by the Boston Public Schools transportation department; and Miniard Culpepper, a prominent Roxbury pastor who previously ran for state Senate in 2022.
Samuel Hurtado, who currently serves as the business manager for the city’s supplier diversity department, is positioning himself not as a Latino candidate but as a representative for all communities in the district.
Hurtado has a significant background in advocacy, having founded South Boston en Acción in the early 2000s. The nonprofit aimed at helping public housing residents advocate for tenant rights and access to education.
He worked alongside former councilor Kim Janey in various capacities: first as her chief of staff and later as a senior adviser during her interim mayoral term.
Hurtado highlighted major initiatives during his time in city government, including improvements in constituent services, collaboration on the cannabis ordinance, and securing funding for Malcolm X Park that emphasized the inclusion of minority women subcontractors.
Reflecting on his campaign strategy, Hurtado stated, “This race will be a huge statement if I can build a coalition that’s truly representative of all parts of this district — new voices, people who haven’t been heard, who don’t feel hopeful about change.”
Despite his ambitions, historical context looms heavily over the election.
Boston’s Black leaders have invested years into acquiring political power, and it remains to be seen if Hurtado’s election could signify a new chapter in that narrative rather than a regression.
Political strategist Jacquetta Van Zandt cast doubts on the candidates, asserting that none possess considerable political experience that could lead to effective change.
Van Zandt described the election field as lacking formidable candidates who can bridge the gap between community activism and governance.
She expressed concern that the race might devolve into mere community activism without focusing on actual governance principles that could benefit the district.
As the district is often seen as a political afterthought in terms of resource allocation, it faces considerable challenges, including one of the lowest voter turnout rates in Boston municipal elections.
Continuing her critique, Van Zandt noted that District Seven residents are “very mistrustful” due to being solicited for votes while often being last to receive essential resources.
This skepticism might impact voter willingness to embrace candidates who seek to represent them in government.
Hurtado’s candidacy pushes back against the idea that political representation in District Seven must stem solely from the Black community, even as he emphasizes that he is not running specifically as a Latino candidate.
The pivotal question ahead of the election is whether Hurtado can sway voters to consider him as a viable option for their representation, thereby reshaping the political landscape of a district steeped in cultural diversity and history.
As the race develops, the potential outcomes may not only define the future of District Seven but also reflect broader shifts within Boston’s political dynamics.
image source from：https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/15/opinion/roxbury-city-council-race-hurtado-fernandes-anderson/
