Candidate ballot positions drawn for Lynn’s September primary

LYNN – City Clerk Mary Audley drew candidate ballot positions Thursday for the Sept. 15 primary election.Most candidates covet the top or bottom slot in their respective race. If such positioning has any influence on voters, councilor-at-large candidates George C. Meimeteas, 30 Kings Beach Road, and incumbent Paul T. Crowley, 86 Holyoke St., are the most strategic first and last slots.In the race for School Committee – the only other competition with more than two candidates – incumbent Vincent Spirito, 95 Range Ave., and incumbent Maria O. Carrasco, 301 Maple St., hold the top and bottom slots, respectively.In the mayoral race, Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr., 20 Harmon St., won the top slot, with Constitution Party candidate David M. Rohnstock, 285 Lynn Shore Drive, immediately beneath.The late Patrick McManus, former Lynn mayor and a candidate for this year’s race until his sudden death last month, will not appear on the ballot.”We checked with the state, and as long as we have a death certificate, his name doesn’t have to be on the ballot,” Audley said.In addition to Meimeteas and Crowley, the councilor-at-large ballot positions are as follows: No. 2, Eugene Schneeberg, 16 Margin St.; No. 3, incumbent John Timothy Phelan, 2 Meghan’s Way; No. 4, incumbent Daniel Cahill, 169 Lynn Shore Drive; No. 5, incumbent Judith Flanagan Kennedy, 23 Buchanan Circle; No. 6, Stephen John Duffy, 136 Walnut St.Ward 1 Councilor Wayne A. Lozzi, 335 Den Quarry Road, is running unopposed.In Ward 2, incumbent councilor William R. Trahant Jr.’s name will occupy the top slot and challenger William Cooksey, 630 Eastern Ave., the second and only other slot.Ward 3 Councilor Darren P. Cyr, 50 Morton Hill Ave., will run unopposed.Ward 4 challenger Gina M. Grandberry, 12 Howard St., will occupy the top slot, with incumbent councilor Richard Colucci, 265 Ocean St., in the second position.In Ward 5, present councilor Paula Mackin has chosen not to seek re-election, leaving newcomers James Stafford, 16 Whiting St., and Brendan Crighton, 97 Pine Grove Ave., to fight it out.Ward 6 Councilor Peter Capano, 101 Alley St., and Ward 7 Councilor Richard Ford, 9 Florence St., will both run unopposed.The School Committee ballot positions, in addition to Spirito on top and Carrasco at the bottom, are as follows: No. 2, incumbent John E. Ford Jr., 89 Woodman St.; No. 3, Harrison L. Harley III, 12 Cherry St.; No. 4, Richard B. Starbard, 221 Verona St.; No. 5, incumbent Donna M. Coppola, 26 Thorpe Road; No. 6, incumbent Jeffrey T. Newhall, 659 Lynnfield St.; and incumbent Patricia N. Capano, 105 Range Heights Road.Audley said the top and bottom slots in a race with multiple candidates are typically coveted. “Having your name first or at the end as opposed to being lost in the middle is usually preferable,” she said.The candidates’ names, represented by ping pong balls, were drawn from a wooden drum. Audley explained that the city switched to the balls because the paper ballots would occasionally get lodged in crevices inside the drum.Candidates Schneeberg, Grandberry and Harley witnessed the proceeding, as did city Community Development Director James Marsh and Harry Coppola, husband of School Committee candidate Donna Coppola. Schneeberg and Grandberry left with blank voter registration cards, indicating they plan to aggressively campaign over the next two weeks.Aug. 26 is the last day for voters to register.