Judge: Candidates will stay on Lynn ballot

LYNN – A Superior Court judge denied a City Council candidate?s request Thursday to keep six other candidates off the preliminary election ballot.Judge Richard Welch sided with a city attorney?s argument that striking the six “could jeopardize the preliminary city election.”?The balance of harm favors the city,” wrote Welch.Ariana Murrell-Rosario, a candidate for Ward 4 councilor, argued councilors William Trahant, Jr., Darren Cyr, Brendan Crighton, Richard Colucci, council candidate Paul Crowley and School Committee member Rick Starbard did not comply with state election requirements for nomination papers.The six deny her claims and city attorney James Lamanna told Welch in Newburyport Superior Court Thursday that planning for the preliminary is well under way with absentee ballot applicants already voting.The Item and itemlive.com will provide full coverage and response to the ruling on Saturday.