Prominent Lynners gave Kennedy cash

LYNN – Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy ended the year with $21,051 in her campaign war chest, according to documents filed with the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance.Kennedy’s committee began last year with $827, raised $27,091, spent $6,867 and had an outstanding liability of $2,750, leaving $21,051 as the tentative balance, according to the OCPF.”My husband filed the report online,” Kennedy said Thursday, referring to Kevin L. Kennedy, her election committee treasurer. “Mayors in cities the size of Lynn are no longer required to file their campaign finance report with the local clerk’s office.”Most of Kennedy’s expenditures were for catered events at local restaurants, postage, phone service and storage of signs and political headquarters furnishings.The names of prominent municipal employees peppered the list of campaign contributors, from ranking Fire Department personnel to members of the Law Department and city offices related to finance and community development. A sprinkling of restaurateurs and private developers also appeared on the list.Current and retired Fire Department employees contributing to Kennedy’s campaign included Richard Biagiotti, Robert Bourgeois, Norman Bourque, Joseph Carritte and William Edwards.Matthew Reddy, representing the Lynn Firefighters Local 739, made two donations.City officials included Personnel Director Joseph Driscoll, Inspectional Services Department Director Michael Donovan, Comptroller John Pace, city Head Librarian Nadine Mitchell, city Veterans’ Agent Michael Sweeney, Tax Collector Frederick Cronin, Purchasing Director Charles White and License Commission member Richard Coppinger.Contributors from the city Department of Economic and Community Development included Director James Marsh and employees Donald Walker and William Bochnak.Attorneys on the list included City Solicitor Michael Barry, city attorney James Lamanna, city attorney George Markopoulos, Assistant City Solicitor Richard Vitali, Lynn attorneys Paul Keating, John Mihos, Michael Marks, Kevin Calnan and Samuel Vitali, Harvey Rowe of Swampscott and special city-hired labor contract lawyer David Grunebaum.School officials include Ford Elementary School Principal Claire Crane, former English High School Principal Andrew Fila, School Committee Secretary Thomas Iarrobino and School Committee member Richard Starbard.”I like Judy. I think she’s doing a good job,” said Starbard. “She’s fair and I like the way she analyzes everything. She takes a lot of criticism because she’s different, but that’s not a bad thing.”Former Lynn mayor Albert DiVirgilio contributed to Kennedy’s campaign, as did local insurance agent Elizabeth Puleo, developer Philip Singleton, businessman David Solimine Jr., Willow Labs owner Brian Strasnick and construction company owner Anthony Centola.Others from government agencies or Lynn non-profit organizations that gave include Lynn Housing & Neighborhood Development (LHAND) Executive Director Charles Gaeta, LHAND staffer Norman Cole, Lynn Water & Sewer Commission Deputy Director Robert Tucker, LWSC Treasurer David Travers, LWSC Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent Robert Tina, the Committee to Elect James Cowdell, Serving People in Need (SPIN) Executive Director Mark DeJoie and Lynn Economic Opportunity Executive Director John Mogielnicki,”My contribution to the mayor was individual money, not from LEO,” said Mogielnicki. “I have been working in this city for over 30 years and I’m actively involved in its continued success.”Several local restaurant owners were among the supporters, such as Rocco Difillipo from the Brickyard Bar & Grille, Robert Gaudet of the Porthole Pub & Restaurant, Rafael Subero of the Blue Note Cafe and president of the Lynn Restaurant Association, George Dean of Christie’s restaurant and Stephen Rima, owner of local McDonald’s restaurant franchises.State Rep. Donald Wong, R-Saugus, was also on the contributors’ list.The largest contributions for $500 came from former f