Pinoy wins city council seat in New England

A Filipino won a city council seat in New England, the Philippine Consulate General in New York said Friday.

Constantino “Coco” Alinsug, 50, a former youth leader, became the first Filipino to get elected to the post in the City Council of Lynn, Massachusetts, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

Alinsug was sworn in on Monday, January 3.

He won the elections in November 2021. Alinsug represents Ward 3, which is 15 minutes north of Boston.

According to the DFA, Alinsug is the first openly gay political candidate to win a seat at the city council.

A former commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth, Alinsug is also a community worker.

Consul General Elmer Cato congratulated Alinsug and said they are confident he will do well in his new post.

“Your feat is worthy of commendation as you are one of a few Filipinos who have been successful in their political aspirations here in the United States,” Cato said in a letter sent to Alinsug on Wednesday.

Alinsug was a founding leader of the National Youth Commission of the Philippines, and was part of the staff of former President Fidel Ramos and his nephew Ranjit Shahani.

He migrated to the US two decades ago, the DFA said.

Alinsug's great-great grandfather, grandmother, and father were councilors before of Consolacion, Cebu. —KG, GMA News