After being elected as the first Haitian-origin member of the Boston City Council, Ruthzee Louijeune continues to make political history in the state of Massachusetts.
She has been chosen by her colleagues to preside over the municipal council of the city of Boston, thus becoming the first Haitian-origin individual to hold this position.
She made the announcement herself, stating, “It is with humility that I realize my colleagues believe in me to lead the Boston City Council during the next term,” in a message published on X formerly known as Twitter She added, “I look forward to working closely in partnership to continue building a city of Boston where every voice is heard and every neighborhood thrives.”
This decision was made after Ruthzee LouiJeune secured the top position in the elections on November 7th, with 43,127 votes, accounting for 20.2%, ahead of Erin Murphy, who received 42,476 votes, or 19.9%. Julia Mejia garnered 38,529 votes (18%), placing third, and Henry Santana came in fourth with 32,902 votes (15.4%).
The city of Boston has 4 at-large city councilors and 9 district councilors.
The position of the council president was previously held by Councilor Edward Flynn of the second district, who was also easily re-elected with 7,552 votes, or 97.81%, without any opposition.
Ruthzee LouiJeune was first elected in 2021. A member of the progressive group of the Democratic Party, she received support from several prominent political figures, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, her former professor at Harvard University.
With her election as the council president, Ruthzee LouiJeune becomes the second most important figure in the city of Boston. In the event of a mayoral vacancy, she would replace Mayor Michelle Wu.
City councilors play a crucial role in the city of Boston. They enact laws governing the municipality’s operations and approve the city’s budget, which is valued at nearly $4 billion.
Ruthzee LouiJeune is a prominent voice in the Haitian community of Boston. Born and raised in Mattapan, a neighborhood predominantly inhabited by Haitians, Ruthzee LouiJeune has been involved in politics from a young age. An experienced lawyer, she has consistently stood on the side of historically marginalized groups, successfully arguing several cases before the United States Supreme Court. She was also the lead attorney for Senator Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign.