After Mild Heart Attack, Councillor Walter Sullivan Reported in Good Condition

Longtime City Councillor Walter J. Sullivan suffered a mild heart attack last Wednesday night and was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital early Thursday morning.

The 15-term councillor is "doing fine, resting, and should be going home in the next few days," said a spokesperson for the City Council office. A spokesperson for Mass. General said Sullivan was in "good condition."

Sullivan did not attend last night's City Council meeting--but according to City Clerk Joseph E. Connarton, he managed to make his presence felt anyway.

"Ironically, he went through a series of tests this morning, and he called me at 3:00 with a series of resolutions [for the evening's meeting]," Connarton told the council.

Sullivan and his family have been instrumental in Cambridge politics since the inception of the current governmental structure in 1941. Both his brother Edward Sullivan, and his father, Michael Sullivan have also served as city councillors, and all three have held the largely ceremonial post of mayor.

Although Sullivan is the city's top vote-getter in almost every council election, he cultivates a low profile in most council meetings and almost never speaks. His explanation is that he prefers to focus on constituent concerns, rather than waste time on long debates.

Connarton said yesterday that he doubted the heart attack would have an effect on Sullivan's campaign for re-election this fall.

Connarton said that Sullivan has never before had a heart attack.