Kennedy backs Tisei

LYNN – Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy endorsed congressional candidate Richard Tisei Tuesday, saying Tisei, if elected, will give the city “a seat at the table” in the Republican-controlled United States House of Representatives.?One of the things truly lacking in Washington is common sense. Richard will bring that rarest commodity with him to Washington,” said Kennedy, a registered Republican.After accepting Kennedy?s endorsement in front of 18 supporters gathered at the Blossom Street extension ferry terminal, Tisei quickly focused on immigration and the increase in unaccompanied minors attending Lynn Public Schools.?Taxpayers in Lynn are bearing the brunt of the federal government?s inability to secure borders,” Tisei said.He proposed filing legislation to allow local school officials to ask students? ages when unaccompanied minors seek to enter schools. Since 2012, Kennedy and school officials have identified an increase in Guatemalan youth moving to the city and enrolling in public schools.?There are instances of people well past the age we are required to school them,” Kennedy said.Enrollment information School Superintendent Catherine Latham shared with Lynn Rotary Club members last week listed 356 foreign newly arrived students from 43 countries enrolled in local schools as of Oct. 8 with 157 from Guatemala.Tisei also proposed federal reimbursements for cities like Lynn educating unaccompanied minors.He also said federal officials must continue to keep Americans well informed about the Ebola virus and Kennedy said African nations may need to consider quarantine periods of up to 30 days to help prevent Ebola?s spread into the U.S.?It?s the only safe way to do it,” she said.Voters on Nov. 4 choose between Tisei, Democrat Seth Moulton and Independent Chris Stockwell.Tisei and Moulton debated in Lynn last Friday and Lynn Community Access and Media Inc. is hosting a congressional candidates? debate tonight, according to LynnCAM?s website.Five North Shore mayors have endorsed Moulton, according to a Moulton campaign statement, and Moulton also received endorsements from state Sen. Thomas M. McGee and Lynn city councilors Rick Ford and Brendan Crighton.Moulton spokeswoman Carrie Rankin said Moulton “…will support comprehensive immigration reform to secure our borders, create a path to citizenship and hold employers accountable for hiring undocumented immigrants.”