Crighton declares at large: ‘Lynn could be next big thing’

LYNN – Ward 5 City Councilor Brendan Crighton announced his decision Tuesday to run for a councilor at large seat in the fall municipal elections.”It’s a tough decision but the right one. I wanted to give my all to the position. As ward councilor, I’ve always tried to help my constituents,” he said.The 30-year-old West Lynn native said he will continue pushing for local economic growth if he is elected councilor at large. Crighton won his colleagues’ support to adopt an accelerated waterfront development permit process last fall and he wants the process applied to other parts of the city.”It opens Lynn up as a place where people want to develop. Lynn could be the next big thing,” he said.Crighton adds his name to a list of councilor at large candidates including incumbents Hong Net, Buzzy Barton and Daniel Cahill, former Councilor Paul Crowley, and former candidates for city office Miguel Funez and Robert Clay Walsh. Historical Commission member Aikaterini Pangiotakis Koudanis has also taken out nomination papers in the at large race.The city political calendar allows municipal candidates to take out nomination papers until June 28. The preliminary election is scheduled for Sept. 17 and the final city election on Nov. 5. Voters will elect four at large councilors in the final election.By setting his sights on an at large seat, Crighton opens Ward 5 for political contention. Political newcomers Seth Albaum, Dianna Chakoutis and Jake Keo have taken out nomination papers for the ward seat.Crighton said his ward council tenure included last year’s efforts to successfully approve $4 million in local improvement projects paid for by city borrowing and including City Hall and Lynn Common renovations.He said constructing a new Marshall Middle School is one of several city priorities he will focus on as councilor at large.”We’re going to have a lot of challenges over the next several years,” he said.Crighton attended Lincoln-Thomson School, Breed Junior High and Classical High School. He earned a government degree from Colby College and a master’s degree in public administration from Suffolk University.Crighton moved out of Ward 5 to 11 Greenleaf Circle last October. He has worked in state Sen. Thomas M. McGee’s office since 2005, beginning as a legislative aide. He won the Ward 5 seat in his first run for public office in 2009.Thor Jourgensen can be reached at [email protected].