Meet the candidates: Lynn City Council, Wards 1-5

There are races in five of Lynn?s seven wards. Each candidate was asked the question: What is the biggest issue facing your ward, and how do you plan to deal with it?Ward 1Name: Wayne LozziAge: 56Occupation: State environmental analystEducation: Lynn English High School graduate; associate degree, North Shore Community College; bachelor?s degree, Bentley CollegeFamily: Wife, Kathy; son, Zachary and daughter, CarmelThe plan to change Union Hospital is the biggest issue right now. It?s going to have a tremendous impact on our community from an economic and emotional perspective. We have to have some input so we will ultimately have core medical services at Union. I held a special City Council meeting on Oct. 15 and I have met with hospitals executives and with our legislative delegation. I want to see that we have input on any decisions.Name: Debra PlunkettAge: 48Occupation: Anti-bullying instructor working in schools for North Shore Camp FireEducation: Lynn public schools, Classical High School and Marian Court College graduateFamily: Husband, David; sons, D.J. and John.The number one issue in Ward 1 is Union Hospital and the plan to eliminate services. I will be in constant communication with Partners HealthCare representatives and have a seat at the table with them to hear what they have to say and relay information to neighbors in regular precinct meetings: We?re not going to just let this happen.Ward 2Name: Jesse JaegerAge: 39Occupation: Executive director, Unitarian Universalist Massachusetts Action Network in SalemEducation: Bachelor?s degree, University of Montana; master?s degree, Gonzaga UniversityFamily: Wife, Natalie, daughters, Lorn and MaryThe biggest issue facing people in Ward 2 is getting responsive constituent services on problems like snow plowing, the rat problem and other day-to-day issues. I?ll be a councilor who returns phone calls. I?m a leader who brings people together. If there is a ward issue, I will bring residents together to solve it.Name: William Trahant, Jr.Age: 53Occupation: rooferEducation: English High School graduateFamily: Wife, Lee: daughter, Gabriella, and son, BaileyThe biggest need in my ward is constituent services – tree trimmings are the biggest need we have right now. We also need to get trees planted and make sure neighborhoods get needed road repairs. If I get re-elected, I want to work with the DPW commissioner to get more employees hired, including winter help for snow plowing.Ward 3Name: Darren CyrAge: 54Occupation: State Lottery asset protection managerEducation: Lynn public schools, graduated Lynn Vocational and Technical InstituteFamily: Wife, Dale; sons Christian and KylianThe most pressing concern in the ward is making sure everything goes good with the new middle school we?re trying to build. I?ve been working on Marshall for the last three years. The toughest part was picking the location and making sure the building got 1,100 instead of 900 seats. It has to go well so we can make sure the door is open to building a new PIckering Middle School.Name: Ronald MendesAge: 44Occupation: Business manager, city of Newton Department of Public Works and a part-time attorneyEducation: Massachusetts School of Law; bachelor?s degree University of DenverFamily: Married to Susie MonizThe issues I keep hearing from people in the ward are the trash and rat problem. They also want to know what is being done to fix the roads and schools. We need to pass the mayor?s rewrite of the city trash ordinance to deal with improper disposal and storage. That?s an issue the City Council can address.Ward 4Name: Richard ColucciAge: 55Occupation: City Councilor and gutter cleaning, used car sales business ownerEducation: English High School graduate; studied for a year at North Shore Community CollegeFamily: Wife, CarolinaThe biggest issue in the ward is getting the Sagamore Street residential project built. I changed the zoning so that it will be a five-story building. Whatever the development needs, I?