Dorothy Kelly Gay

Dorothy Kelly Gay
34th Mayor of Somerville, Massachusetts
In office
May 21, 1999 – January 5, 2004
Preceded by William M. Roche (Acting)
Succeeded by Joseph Curtatone
Member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council for the 6th District
In office
1993–1999
Preceded by Daniel G. Hurley
Succeeded by Michael J. Callahan
Personal details
Born (1943-04-23) April 23, 1943
Ballinasloe, County Galway, Ireland
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Bertram Gay
Alma mater Mayday Hospital School of Nursing
Profession Registered Nurse
Administrative Coordinator of Nursing[1]

Dorothy A. Kelly Gay is an Irish-born American politician who served as Mayor of Somerville, Massachusetts and on the Massachusetts Governor's Council.

Early life

Gay was born on April 26, 1943 in Ballinasloe, County Galway, Ireland.[1] Her father was a politician, nurse and union activist.[2] She graduated from Newtown National School, Convent of Mercy Secondary School, and Ballinasloe Technical School.[1] In 1961 she moved to England to pursue a career in nursing.[2] She graduated from the Mayday Hospital School of Nursing in Surrey in 1964.[1] In the early 1960s she met Bertram Gay in London.[3] The couple later married and in 1968 they immigrated to the United States because their child needed a surgery that was only available Boston Children's Hospital. They settled in Somerville and the couple soon found employment, with Gay getting hired at Somerville's Heritage Hospital. She continued to work as a nurse until 1999.[2]

Political career

In 1986, Kelly Gay was appointed to the Somerville School Committee. She was elected to a full term ten months later. In 1992 Gay was elected to the Massachusetts Governor's Council in the 6th District.[2]In 1998 she ran for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. Gay lost in the Democratic primary to State Senator Warren Tolman 270,791 (54%) votes to 232,250 (46%).[4]

In 1999, Gay was elected Mayor of Somerville in a special election to succeed Michael Capuano, who was elected to the United States House of Representatives. She defeated alderman John Buonomo 6878 votes to 6473.[5] She ran for a full term later that year and was elected unopposed.[6] In 2003, Gay finished third in the preliminary election behind Alderman Joseph Curtatone and businessman Tony Lafuente. Gay's loss was blamed on increasing gang violence, declining economic growth, and cuts in state aid that forced her to cut public services and fire 200 municipal workers.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1997-1998.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Chase, Joseph P. (October 6, 1999). "Mayor Dorothy Kelly Gay: Somerville's Lucky Charm". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  3. ↑ "One Patient's New Lease on Life". Mount Auburn Hospital. Mount Auburn Hospital. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  4. ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=665324
  5. ↑ Chase, Joseph P. (May 12, 1999). "Dorothy Kelly Gay Elected Mayor of Somerville". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  6. ↑ Chase, Joseph P. (October 6, 1999). "Mayor Dorothy Kelly Gay: Somerville's Lucky Charm". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  7. ↑ Gedan, Benjamin (November 5, 2003). "Curtatone passes Lafuente to succeed ousted mayor". The Boston Globe. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
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