Ready, set, go: Race for Nov. 4 is on

LYNN – Candidates vying to become the North Shore?s next congressman kept the focus on Lynn Wednesday with proposals to jump-start the city?s economy and help the city leaders cope with an immigration surge.After thanking his supporters Tuesday night for convincing voters to defeat U.S. Rep. John Tierney, Seth Moulton became the first candidate in the race to pledge to make Lynn one of his priorities as he aims for victory on Nov. 4.Moulton said he will help lead a “renaissance” in Lynn similar to the redevelopment boom Lowell enjoyed under the late U.S. Sen. Paul Tsongas? guidance.Republican Richard Tisei on Wednesday listed General Electric, the Gloucester fishing industry and Hanscom Air Force Base among his top district job growth priorities.?Right now, our district is not well represented in Washington,” Tisei said.The 52-year-old real estate business owner, who narrowly lost to Tierney in 2012, said Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy “needs a partner in Washington” to help her get federal help to aid immigrants moving into the city.Kennedy addressed a Washington panel two weeks ago on the rising number of immigrant youth moving into Lynn.?I support the mayor. I think as a member of the majority party, I could be helpful in bringing resources to Lynn,” Tisei said.Self-described independent Christopher Stockwell launched his congressional campaign in Lynn Wednesday, telling 15 supporters, “I love Lynn,” and describing how he volunteers at Raw Art Works, where he said participating youth have a “91 percent college acceptance rate.”The 53-year-old Connecticut native said he grew up as a Republican, switched to become a Democrat, and has been “unenrolled for three or four years.” He lives in Marblehead and is a senior vice president at a Woburn engineering firm.?I?m in the moderate middle. We need to put an independent in Congress to show that if the parties don?t do the job, we won?t elect their leaders,” Stockwell said.He pledged to draft a job creation plan for the 6th District and work to balance the federal budget with the goal of reducing the nation?s $17 trillion in long-term debt.Stockwell said his vision of a “right-sized” federal government does not correspond with Democratic Party values. Even as he vowed Tuesday to keep the 6th District a Democratic seat, Moulton reminded supporters: “It?s not enough to blame Republicans” for a lack of progress and action in Congress.If elected, Moulton said he will not take a congressional paycheck if future federal spending chaos results in another government shutdown.Tisei said the 26 years he served in the state Legislature make him the only congressional candidate “who can hit the ground running.”?I?m the only candidate that has actually represented people before,” he said.{{tncms-asset app=”editorial” id=”4b04792c-3946-11e4-b0cb-a7a2479c3f48″}}