West Lynn candidates weigh in

LYNN – They agreed on ways to bring jobs and businesses into the city, but West Lynn-Nahant legislative candidates broke ranks over a $62,500 pay hike for Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy and $25,000 annual salary for councilors requiring legislative home rule petition approval. Councilor at large Brendan Crighton voted for the pay hike and said the increase will help “professionalize” the mayor?s office. He said the council pay proposal simply combines existing council salary plus a stipend. Kennedy currently earns $82,500?This has no effect on the budget whatsoever,” Crighton said.School Committee member Charlie Gallo said the raise won council approval even as city departments faced 2 percent budget cuts.?This has an effect – to say it doesn?t is disingenuous,” Gallo said.Gallo, Crighton and fellow Democrat Aikaterini Panagiotakis Koudanis faced off in Friday?s Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce debate with only days remaining for them to win voter support on Sept. 9.Gallo and Crighton told a 40-person audience they oppose a statewide ballot question repealing an increase in the state gasoline tax from 21 cents to 24 cents with an inflation “indexing” or adjustment mechanism.Both men agreed the state needs money to pay for major transportation projects, but Koudanis – an architect and former council candidate – said indexing is wrong.?It?s better to have a periodic review,” she said.Koudanis also supports a ballot question asking voters to repeal the state law allowing casinos in Massachusetts, saying it “takes away small business opportunities.” Gallo and Crighton said casinos mean jobs that could benefit Lynn if Suffolk Downs – as early as next week – receives a casino license.Koudanis helped formed the local “Save Union Hospital” group, but Crighton said he has worked locally and at the state level to ensure Partners HealthCare maintains a full service hospital in Lynn.He also underscored council approval of zoning changes he proposed to help bring restaurants and other businesses downtown and his recently passed arts commission proposal. Gallo said he pushed for more arts programs in public schools and said downtown art brings people outside and reduces crime.Koudanis said city development efforts need to focus, in part, on creating a “gateway” on the Lynnway featuring local art combined with a Revere Beach-to-Lynn bike path.Gallo said councilors missed an economic development opportunity by not ensuring the All Care Visiting Nurses building on Market Street included ground-floor commercial space. Crighton said he authored and supported economic development measures, including tax financing assistance to businesses that helped bring commercial soup maker Kettle Cuisine from Chelsea to Lynn.He wants the Beacon Chevrolet development site opposite North Shore Community College finally be freed up for development. Gallo said General Electric-owned sites in West Lynn offer development potential while Koudanis said commercial property across Lynn must be preserved to create centers where businesses sharing similar markets can thrive.Former Mayor Thomas P. Costin Jr. won applause at the end of Friday?s debate when he praised the three candidates for talking about local concerns as they campaigned across West Lynn and Nahant.?Regardless of which candidate wins, the city is going to be the winner,” he said.