Samuel Hurtado has dedicated his life to public service and community organizing. He is running to represent District 7 in the Boston City Council because he knows the residents of this community deserve an experienced advocate and organizer who will fight for them and with them to make gains in crucial areas like affordable housing, economic opportunity, access to high-quality education, and tools for older adults to more confidently age in place.

Samuel knows and respects that District 7 has a rich history of political action – it is and has been a powerhouse – and he believes it can show the city how a diverse community with a wealth of strengths can unite to take care of each other and break down long-standing institutional barriers in pursuit of a stronger, more equitable city.

For more than 25 years, Samuel has worked in and outside of government alongside people from across the city to build communities that work for all. Samuel is a good listener who speaks candidly and is unwilling to wait for systems to fix themselves. He understands how to navigate city policies, as well as personalities, and is known as reliable, clear-headed, and someone who always returns a phone call. Throughout all of his work, he has seen the value of bringing people together to get real results. He grew up in Mexico in a poor family with 6 children, a father dealing with substance abuse and his mother as the breadwinner. The children had to start working young. Samuel washed cars, and sold everything from candy and newspapers, to giant bags of flour chicharones that his mother would fry up. They experienced hunger and humiliation, and it was hard. At 10, his father and his whole family went through a recovery program and their lives started to improve. Now his family includes successful small business owners, educators, and advocates. He moved to Boston in 1999. While working in South Boston, Samuel and a group of public housing residents worked together to found South Boston en Acción (SBEA), a member-led community organization focused on advocating for tenant rights, education access, and high-quality services. He went on to serve for ten years as SBEA’s first Executive Director. For years he also advocated for Black and Latino students in low-income neighborhoods and worked with parents and educators to reduce the opportunity gap for children learning English. As a longtime BPS parent, Samuel knows firsthand the challenges facing young people, their families, and their schools. He is currently serving a second term on the board of directors of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative.

He has since served in multiple leadership roles in the City of Boston, including Senior Advisor to former Mayor Kim Janey and Chief of Staff at the District 7 City Council Office. Currently, Samuel is a Business Manager in the Economic Opportunity and Inclusion Cabinet, where he is laser focused on creating generational wealth by opening contract opportunities to diverse local businesses.

Samuel and Britta, his wife of 21 years, live in Roxbury where they are raising their two sons, Alden and Ilan. He loves walking his dog, Lolita, especially when their walks help him connect with neighbors and listen to their thoughts on issues they care about.