Photo: Chris Fama/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Boston City Council members Ricardo Arroyo and Kendra Lara lost their bids for re-election Tuesday night.
After campaigns overshadowed by controversy, the two incumbent councilors were unable to fend off challengers in their districts.
After being forced to pay a $3,000 fine for his role in his brother Felix Arroyo’s trial, the councilor continued to act as an attorney until November 2022, when he withdrew from the case. Arroyo lost many of his endorsements last year while running for Suffolk County District Attorney, with Kevin Hayden ultimately winning the election.
Read More: Arroyo Loses More Endorsements Amid Sexual Assault Claims
According to the City of Boston’s unofficial election results, Arroyo only received about 19 percent of the votes for the District 5. Enrique Pepén, who was recently endorsed by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and José Ruiz emerged as the two candidates for the November election.
Kendra Lara, whose license has been suspended since 2013, faced criminal charges for crashing her car into a Jamaica Plain home in June. Lara was summonsed to West Roxbury Boston Municipal Court on charges of Reckless Operation, Speeding, and a seat belt violation.
One Boston resident said to WBZ that she could not overlook Lara’s criminal charges when deciding on who to vote.
“No, I don’t think she deserves my vote. If she can’t take care of her own business, how can she take care of the city’s business?”
Lara finished third in District 6’s preliminary election with only three names on the ballot. Benjamin Weber and William King will face off in the district's November election.
WBZ has reached out to both campaigns for comment.
WBZ’s Chris Fama (CFamaWBZ) reports.
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