Kennedy, other incumbents get top billing

LYNN – City election workers matched numbers on randomly rolling balls with the names of candidates for elected office Tuesday to set the stage for the Nov. 5 final election.The drawing designated Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy?s name as the first listed on the final ballot followed by challenger Timothy Phelan.The drawing gave City Councilor at large Hong Net the first position on the at-large ballot and School Committee member Rick Starbard?s name will appear first on the ballot section listing committee candidates.The City Charter dictates that “the order in which the names of candidates appear on the ballot for each office shall be determined by a drawing…open to the public.” City Clerk Mary Audley oversaw Tuesday?s ballot and said the influence ballot order has on voters has waned.?People who get out and vote are more educated than they used to be,” Audley said.But Audley?s observation did not keep political newcomer Lorraine Gately from briefly celebrating her fifth place position on the November ballot.?I?m happy with it,” she said.Committee member Donna Coppola?s name will be listed second on the ballot followed by John Ford, Charlie Gallo, Gately, Maria Carrasco, Melissa Romaniello, Patricia Capano and Stanley Wotring Jr.Former Councilor Paul Crowley?s name will be listed below Net?s on the ballot followed by Aikaterini Panagiotakis Koudanis, Miguel Funez, Robert Clay Walsh, Brendan Crighton, Daniel Cahill and Gordon “Buzzy” Barton.Ward 1 Councilor Wayne Lozzi?s name is slated to be listed first on the ward ballot followed by challenger Debra Plunkett. Ward 2 Councilor William Trahant Jr.?s name will be listed first followed by challenger Jesse Jaeger; Ward 3 Councilor Darren Cyr?s name will be listed above challenger Ronald Mendes? name and Ward 4 Councilor Richard Colucci?s name will be listed above Ariana Murrell-Rosario.Ward 5 candidate Dianna Chakoutis? name will be listed first followed by candidate Jake Keo.Ward 6 Councilor Peter Capano and Ward 7 Councilor Rick Ford are unopposed.