After announcing his candidacy in November to replace Boston’s State Senator Dan Wolf representing the Cape and Islands district, the news was official. But now the out-and-proud candidate Julian Cyr is sealing the deal by announcing his departure from his job with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to devote all his time to the campaign.
“My only job for the next five months and 17 days before the September 8 primary is to focus on the issues facing the people of the Cape and Island—that’s why I’m all in,” says Cyr, who up until just recently had served the state as director of policy and regulatory affairs for environmental health.
“The five years I spent at the Department of Public Health were the most rewarding of my career,” he says. “I remember the awe I felt in my first days in 2011 when I realized the significance of the work that the agency’s bureaus and programs do. I am proud to have been a part of protecting the public’s health during times of scarcity, challenge, and transition. I hope I can continue the tradition of excellence, social justice, dedication, and kindness that so many of my colleagues at the [department] exemplify.”
Early on in his career, Cyr, a Cape Cod native, worked as a harm reduction counselor for the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod. As his campaign website describes, he went on to gain “broad experience in public policy, health advocacy, organizing, and social justice”:
Under Governor Deval Patrick, he worked closely with members of the State Senate as deputy director for government affairs at the Department of Public Health. In his state service, he has contributed to the development and implementation of significant policies and legislation, working with state agencies, the Legislature, and municipalities. Since 2011, Julian has also served on the Massachusetts Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQ) Youth, including a highly productive tenure as chair in 2013 and 2014.
“Now that I’m a full-time candidate, he says, “the campaign has ramped up and I’m entirely focused on meeting Cape and Islands voters and learning what is important to them. I’m all in and I need you to be too.”
