In 1935 , Reilly was appointed to the Boston Finance Commission . He resigned later that year . In 1937 he worked on the Mayoral campaign of Maurice J. Tobin . Following Tobin 's election , Reilly was appointed fire commissioner . At 34 , he was the youngest man to hold this office . During his tenure , the department fought and investigated the Cocoanut Grove fire - deadliest nightclub fire in history . In 1945 , Tobin , now Governor of Massachusetts , nominated Reilly to be chairman of the Metropolitan District Commission . His appointment was blocked by Lieutenant Governor Robert F. Bradford and two Democratic members of the Massachusetts Governor 's Council . In 1945 , Reilly ran for Mayor of Boston . He finished in third place behind James Michael Curley and John E. Kerrigan with 19 % of the vote
Cocoanut Grove fire
Cocoanut Grove fire
William Arthur Reilly