Dan Gaynor made this announcement today ….

Today, Dan Gaynor, Obama-Biden Administration official and successful entrepreneur, declares his candidacy for Newton City Council.

“Born and raised here in Newton, I grew up watching my own parents’ commitment to service—and now as a young dad myself, I share our community’s top priority: family.”

“An immigrant from Kiev fleeing antisemitism, my grandfather purchased an affordable cobblestone home on Cabot Street in the 1930’s. Nearly a century later, Newton looks a lot different, but some things remain the same. A few months ago, just like my grandfather, I brought my new baby—a 4th generation Newtonian—home from the hospital through that exact same door on Cabot Street.

“I’m running for City Council to ensure Newton remains the best place to live at any age, and because my experiences—serving in the Obama Administration, founding a company, and growing a family—enable me to give back to every corner of our community.

“In Washington, I was selected by then-President Barack Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden to serve as a Presidential appointee on national security and foreign policy. In the Administration, I worked at the highest levels of government and on the hardest issues: containing the Ebola epidemic, protecting democracy from corruption, and racing to save lives from disasters, disease, and war. In an era where ‘bipartisan’ sounds old-fashioned, I carved out common ground between Democrats and Republicans to fund investments in early childhood education, humanitarian aid, and economic opportunity for vulnerable women and girls.

“I then served Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley as Director of Policy Development. We pioneered a model for technology-powered governing—one where politicians use objective data and facts, not ideology, as the foundation for making smarter decisions.

“At the end of the Obama Administration, I moved to Nike’s worldwide headquarters, where I was charged with envisioning the future of the world’s biggest brand. I worked alongside Nike’s CEO and executive team on diversity and sustainability, innovation launches, and global communications strategy.

“Seeing the immense potential of artificial intelligence (A.I.), I returned home and founded a company here in Newton. Our data analytics platform helps global brands strengthen their commitments to better business practices, from embracing renewable energy to boosting diversity. In July 2022, my company was acquired by one of the world’s fastest-growing applied AI firms.

“As a passionate supporter of non-profit organizations, I serve on the Community Advisory Board of WBUR (Boston’s NPR News Station); as a member of the Boston Chamber of Commerce and the New England Council, our nation’s oldest regional business organization; on the New Frontier Steering Committee of the John F. Kennedy Library & Foundation; and as a Fellow at the Truman Center for National Policy. I earned a Master’s degree with top honors from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis.

“I live in the Newtonville area with my wife, Cara, and our baby girl. We’re frequently found on the swings at Cabot Park, on the dock at Crystal Lake, or on a bench outside of Mochiko Hawaiian sipping on a bubble tea.

“Growing up here in Newton opened incredible opportunities. I’m running for City Council to apply my experiences—and all the challenges I’ve faced from them—into a powerful lever for progress within Newton City Hall.”