LYNN – Citing the desire to see several projects further progress under his watch, Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr. ann-ounced Monday he will run for re-election next year.”To take GE’s old phrase, progress is our most important product, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” he said, adding that he wants to continue to work on downtown revitalization, expansion of the public library and the relocation of power lines as part of the city’s waterfront development plan.Rather than make a formal speech, Clancy, 58, said he would let his actions of the last seven years speak for themselves.”To sum it all up, actions speak louder than words,” he said. “(Barack) Obama has been talking about change all year and (John) McCain is trying to go that route with (Sarah) Palin, but I’ve done that here for seven years. Now it’s time for people to decide whether it’s been for the good or for the worse. We’ve had seven years of action and change and I’m going to let it go at that.”Clancy, an attorney, was elected to the city’s first four-year mayoral term in 2001, as the first unopposed mayoral candidate since 1963. One of the first changes he made after taking office was to audit the city’s finances and create the Inspectional Services Department, which streamlined the building, electrical and other departments that issue permits and handle inspections. He also closed the city’s two nursing homes and replaced them with housing developments, scrutinized books at Gannon Golf Course and renegotiated terms of its lease, opened Federal Street to West Lynn traffic and privatized ambulance service.Clancy was elected to his second term in 2005, during which he closed the three branch libraries, oversaw the creation of a waterfront development plan and proposed a $10 million bond, which voters approved to complete capital repairs throughout the city. He also orchestrated $14 million in repairs to the sinking Classical High School, recommended the razing of Manning Bowl, which has since been replaced with the state-of-the-art Manning Field, and renegotiated a lease with the Multi-Service Center on Liberty Street.Although he has a long list of accomplishments, Clancy’s tenure has not come without controversy. Critics have denounced what they call his “my-way-or-the-highway” approach to governing, as well as some of the political appointments he has given to longtime friends. He has been criticized for spending campaign funds at out-of-town restaurants, and for spurring an ongoing federal discrimination lawsuit with English High School boys basketball coach Gordon “Buzzy” Barton, after Clancy publicly opposed his appointment.Clancy on Monday denied his critics’ accusations that he is a member of the “Good Ol’ Boy Network.””Some people can certainly say they’re sick of me and that’s fair, but the Good Ol’ Boy Network? No, that’s blatantly incorrect,” he said. “There have been tough economic times and I have been forced to make a lot of tough decisions almost from Day 1 and if (voters) are sick of me, that’s what we’ll find out.”Prior to serving as mayor, Clancy was a councilor at large before making the jump to state representative in 1990. He then moved on to the state senate in 1994.Clancy is expected to formally announce his bid for re-election at a campaign fundraiser Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus on Lynnfield Street.