Driscoll Jr. Announces for Council President

Bob Driscoll Jr. sat proudly with members of his family as his father, Bob Driscoll Sr., accepted the Community Service Award from the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce at its Jan. 23 kickoff dinner.

Driscoll Sr. has given more than 40 years of public service to the town, notably as a member of the Airport Hazards Committee.

Driscoll Jr. has also been very involved in town government, beginning at the age of 18 when he served as a Town Meeting member. He also served on the Advisory Committee and later the Board of Selectmen from 1997 to 2000, working with Selectmen Gerry Ogus, Joe Ferrino, and Matt Lanza.

And now Driscoll is trying to increase his involvement to the highest level of town government, announcing this week that he will be a candidate for Town Council President. Peter Gill said last week that he will not seek re-election.

Driscoll is a graduate of Boston College High School and UMass/Amherst where he received a degree in Economics. He also holds a master’s degree in Taxation from Bentley University and currently is the director of finance at the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center.

Driscoll and his wife, Kathy, have two sons, Bob III, a 2010 graduate of Loyola University in New Orleans,  and Christopher, a 2012 graduate of Boston College.

“Ever since 2012, I’ve been thinking about ways to get back involved in the town,” said Driscoll. “I had been appointed to two non-profit boards that have a huge impact on Winthrop: treasurer and chairman of the finance committee of the East Boston Neighborhood Community Health Center and a member of the asset liability committee of the Winthrop Federal Credit Union.”

Driscoll said those appointed positions were low-key ways to stay involved while his sons were proceeding through college.

He decided to make a run for council president after learning that Gill would not be seeking re-election.

“Peter did a great job,” said Driscoll. “I think the entire Council has done a great job. I know a number of the councilors and I think they have been extremely effective. You see it all over the town.”

Driscoll also praised Town Manager James McKenna for his leadership. “I think he’s done a superb job. He’s highly qualified, well respected in his profession, and Winthrop has been lucky to have a guy like that and I hope to work with him in the future – that’s the goal.”

Driscoll said he was inspired by his father to be in public service and contribute to the town.

“All of my family have been active in the community such as being Town Meeting members,” said Driscoll. “My older sister, Kathy, has a show at WCAT about helping animals in shelters. My father and my mother [Clara] have inspired all of us. I was born in the Winthrop Hospital and our family loves this town.”

Driscoll said he will schedule a campaign kickoff event in the spring.