Flanagan-Kennedy jumps into mayoral fight

LYNN – Councilor-at-large Judith Flanagan Kennedy declared her candidacy for mayor Friday, launching a sticker campaign after weeks of soul searching.Kennedy, 47, 23 Buchanan Circle, said she arrived at the decision to run for the city’s top office after the sudden death of former Lynn mayor Patrick J. McManus earlier this summer and lengthy discussions with her husband, Kevin, and two children.”We talked about this as a family,” she said, recalling her son Colin, 13, and daughter Mia, 11 ? both students at Pickering Middle School ? were excited by the prospect that their mom might be mayor. “My kids kept the secret better than some other people in town. Back in March I began thinking about running but there were too many things in the way. Now some of those have changed so I’ll give it a try.”Kennedy, an attorney in private practice, is also a part-time driver for Greater Lynn Senior Services.”I want to give the voters an alternative choice to the two candidates already on the ballot,” she said, referring to Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr. and challenger David Rohnstock.Kennedy cited fiscal responsibility as the cornerstone of her campaign. “In January of 2009, the mayor and all of the city councilors, except me, accepted a pay raise while city workers were being laid off. That’s just not right. I choose to lead by example and, if elected, will not take a salary greater than the $82,500 allotted to the mayor by ordinance.”The candidate said she wants to eliminate educational incentives that cost the city approximately $500,000 per year, and to limit car allowances to municipal department heads and other City Hall officials, which currently amount to nearly $300,000 annually.Emphasizing her strong support for education and public safety, Kennedy said her children attend public school where she expects they will benefit from quality teaching. As for law enforcement, Kennedy said she wants the Police Department’s Gang Unit and the student resource officers reinstated.”I see these two approaches as being the best means we have to protect our children, and ourselves, from the gangs that taint our city,” she said, adding that the city must find funds to reopen Ladder 4 at the Broadway firehouse. “It’s closure leaves all of the residents along Lynnfield Street without adequate fire protection.”Kennedy also took aim at what she described as the domination of local politics by white males. “I would like the composition of these boards to reflect more closely the demographic makeup of Lynn,” she said.The candidate elaborated on the need to find “outside talent with fresh ideas to guide the city.” Vacant positions in city government should be openly posted and advertised so that the most qualified, experienced people can be hired to oversee municipal departments, she said, adding, “I do not believe in the parochial system of giving plum jobs to connected people, and want to stop that practice immediately.”Before declaring her candidacy, Kennedy sought and received approval from McManus’ widow, Debbie. The councilor added that she isn’t running as “Pat Junior” as some detractors have suggested, but as a candidate with her own ideas for moving Lynn forward.”No two people will agree completely on what is best for the future of the city. However, my views are not dissimilar to those of Pat McManus, and I am grateful that his committee has given me their full support in this endeavor,” she said.Kennedy has not selected a campaign manager or established a headquarters. “Right now we’re doing everything by committee, but I expect that will change shortly,” she said.Kennedy is no stranger to sticker campaigns, having run a successful one in 1991, topping the ticket and winning a School Committee seat. Her decision to run for mayor comes only days after former City Council president Salvy Migliaccio decided against a mayoral bid. Migliaccio claimed he received numerous calls and visits from people asking him to run after McManus died on July 10. Migl