Koudanis stresses government reform

LYNN – Aikaterini Panagiotakis Koudanis can essentially sum up her reasons for running for the 11th Essex district seat in one word: reform.”Positive reform, reform in education, reform in planning, reform of how government works,” she said, ticking off each on her fingers. “Government should be a gift to the people.”Koudanis said she has been asked many times why she’s chosen to run for the seat left vacant by Steven Walsh and each time she answers it becomes a little clearer and it always comes back to reform.A green candidate, committed to green energy, Koudanis has completed a degree in architecture although she admits she is not yet licensed. She has passed the first of seven exams but has been waylaid by community issues that she found she cannot say no to, she said.Koudanis said she has a long history of volunteering, dating back to elementary school, she said. Her first real turn at advocacy came a few years ago, when Lowe’s Home Improvement and Walmart announced plans to build superstores on the Lynn/Salem line. Most recently she launched the Save Union Hospital movement, which has caught the attention of a number of state and local officials and residents.”If I worked for the Department of Defense and I looked at where the hospitals are, by removing Union Hospital there will be a big empty gap between Salem and Melrose, a densely populated gap,” she said. “I would want a more even spread of hospitals.”One problem facing the city is that it’s in lockstep with the status quo, Koudanis said. She would like to see more inclusiveness in areas such as the waterfront development. While most city officials and planners agree with the master plan that has been laid out for the waterfront, Koudanis doesn’t. She said she is afraid building residential high rises will only make Lynn a bedroom community for Boston.”I don’t want to change this blue-collar city into an upscale, snotty city,” she said.She is also concerned that adding high rises along the waterfront will change the climate inland by blocking sea breezes and light.”It will change the microclimate in West Lynn,” she said.Her idea for the waterfront includes residential buildings with open pockets of industry mixed with storefronts, cafes and restaurants along a boardwalk that would stretch from Revere to Nahant.The waterfront is not the only avenue she views differently. Koudanis said she believes there are creative ways to deal with the influx of English-as-a-second-language students and it doesn’t include more money.”I think we have the resources we need; they just have to be reorganized,” she said.She is not in favor of standardized testing but loves the idea of innovative charter schools.She also believes she is the only candidate with real experience in dealing with the opiate crisis facing the city.”I know what works and what doesn’t,” she said. “I’m not afraid to help.”Not a fan of methadone clinics or lengthy hospital stays, Koudanis said society must stop dependency issues with dependency. She believes in a more holistic approach using substances like Suboxone, which is an opiate blocker, rather than an opiate substitute.”I’m looking for responsible treatment and methadone is irresponsible,” she said.She takes issue with her opponents in two particular areas. Like candidate Charlie Gallo, she doesn’t support the home rule petition that would give the mayor and the City Council a raise.”But it’s a little late for my opponent to whine about it,” she said. “There was a public hearing and I was one of nine who stood up to oppose it.”She also doesn’t agree with zoning changes candidate and City Councilor Brendan Crighton has supported for the downtown area.”I think they will hurt the downtown more than help,” she said.She also doesn’t like casinos but will support them if it’s the will of the people, she said. And while she believes that elected officials should support the people, she doesn’t believe the government should be telling the supermarket chain Market B