Charles Ryan (mayor)

Charles V. Ryan (September 15, 1927 – October 18, 2021) was an American politician who served as Mayor of Springfield, Massachusetts, from 1962 to 1967, and again from 2004 to 2008.[2]

Charles Ryan
Ryan in 2003
Mayor of Springfield
In office
1962–1967
Preceded byThomas J. O'Connor
Succeeded byFrank Harlan Freedman
In office
2004–2008
Preceded byMichael Albano
Succeeded byDomenic Sarno
Personal details
Born(1927-09-15)September 15, 1927[1]
Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedOctober 18, 2021(2021-10-18) (aged 94)
Political partyIndependent

Ryan served as the city's mayor during the 1960s for three terms and for two additional terms beginning in 2004, making him the only Springfield mayor to serve in two different centuries.[3] His terms in the 1960s occurred during a time of civil unrest and controversial urban renewal projects. Ryan was unsuccessful in preventing the closure of the Springfield Armory, a major economic blow to Springfield that he blamed on then Congressman Edward P. Boland. Ryan ran against Boland for Congress in 1968, but was defeated in a landslide. After leaving office he became a prominent attorney and continued to be active in public affairs, serving as a member of the downtown economic development group Springfield Central and leading efforts to successfully defeat attempts to institute casino gambling. He also led successful efforts to place the privately owned Springfield libraries under public control.

He attempted to return to the mayoralty in 1995 but lost to city councilor Michael J. Albano. Ryan was elected mayor in 2003 following the decision of Albano not to seek reelection. He defeated the Albano endorsed State Senator Linda Melconian in a campaign that focused on the numerous corruption scandals of the Albano years.[4] In November 2005, Ryan won reelection defeating the city's School Committee Vice-President, Thomas Ashe. On April 12, 2007, Ryan announced that he would run for re-election in the city's 2007 mayoral election and stated that this would be his final run.[5] He lost this election to City Councilor Domenic Sarno.[3]

Ryan died following a short illness on October 18, 2021, at the age of 94.[6]

Electoral history
1961 Springfield, Massachusetts mayoral election
Candidate Primary election[7] General election[8]
Votes % Votes %
Charles Ryan 6,764 31.77 28,999 52.28
Thomas J. O'Connor (incumbent) 14,563 34.54 26,471 47.72
Raymond N. Tuller Jr. 7,874 18.67
John P. Lynch 5,554 13.17
Armand N. Tancrati 3,214 7.62
Arthur J. McKenna 1,282 3.04
Norman E. Cowles 177 0.42
Bernard M. Lapointe 112 0.27
Arbold R. Craven 97 0.23
Total 42,168 100 55,470 100
1963 Springfield, Massachusetts mayoral election
Candidate Primary election[9] General election[10]
Votes % Votes %
Charles Ryan (incumbent) 11,906 57 32,063 72.92
John P. Lynch 7,284 11,909 27.08
Arthur R. Caney
Total 100 43,972 100
1968 United States House of Representatives Massachusetts's 2nd district Democratic primary[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward P. Boland (incumbent) 42,100 62.71
Democratic Charles V. Ryan 25,038 37.29
Total votes 67,138 100
1995 Springfield, Massachusetts mayoral election
Candidate Primary election[12] General election[13]
Votes % Votes %
Michael J. Albano 6,764 31.77 18,929 52.29
Charles V. Ryan 7,930 37.25 17,274 47.71
Robert Markel (incumbent) 4,160 19.54
Frederick Hurst 1,740 8.17
Chelan Jenkins 694 3.26
Total 21,288 100 36,203 100
2003 Springfield, Massachusetts mayoral election[14]
Candidate Votes  %
Charles V. Ryan 14,979 52.81
Linda J. Melconian 13,258 46.75
Write-ins 125 0.44
Voter turnout 33.15%
2005 Springfield, Massachusetts mayoral election[15]
Candidate Votes  %
Charles V. Ryan (incumbent) 14,164 63.48
Thomas Ashe 8,038 36.02
Write-ins 112 0.50
Voter turnout 27.85%
2007 Springfield, Massachusetts mayoral election[16][17]
Candidate Votes  %
Domenic J. Sarno 11,096 52.54
Charles V. Ryan (incumbent) 9,964 47.18
Write-ins 61 0.29
Voter turnout 26.81%

References
  1. Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory (2002), pg. 560
  2. "Former Springfield Mayor Charles Ryan to endorse Sen. Scott Brown in reelection bid". 6 September 2012.
  3. "Western challenger wins mayor's seat". Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  4. "Mayor-elect will support prescription drug plan". Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  5. Ryan, 79, to pursue re-election- MassLive.com
  6. Former Springfield Mayor Charles V. Ryan dies at 94
  7. "Ryan Runs 2d to Challenge O'Connor in Race for Mayor". Newspapers.com. Boston Globe. 11 Oct 1961. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  8. "MAYORAL UPSETS IN MASSACHUSETTS". The New York Times. Associated Press. 8 November 1961. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  9. "Ryan Leads, To Face Lynch". Newspapers.com. Boston Globe. 9 Oct 1963. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  10. "Springfield Mayor Wins After Bitter Campaign". Newspapers.com. Hartford Courant. 7 Nov 1963. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  11. "Our Campaigns - MA District 2 - D Primary Race - Sep 17, 1968". www.ourcampaigns.com. Our Campaigns. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  12. "Our Campaigns - Springfield, MA Mayor - Primary Race - Sep 19, 1995". www.ourcampaigns.com. Our Campaigns. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  13. "Our Campaigns - Springfield, MA Mayor Race - Nov 07, 1995". www.ourcampaigns.com. Our Campaigns. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  14. "2003_City_Election_11-04_SUM.pdf" (PDF). Springfield, Massachusetts. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  15. "SUMMARY REPORT CITY ELECTION SPRINGFIELD MA TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2005" (PDF). Springfield, Massachusetts. 14 November 2005. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  16. "Local Election November 6th, 2007". Springfield, Massachusetts. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  17. "City of Springfield, Mass.: 2007 Elections". www.springfield-ma.gov. Springfield, Massachusetts. Archived from the original on 12 June 2008.


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