Stage all but set for Lynn summer-fall election season

LYNN – A few latecomers could straggle into the City Clerk?s office today, but the die is all but cast for this year?s municipal election season with crowded races for City Council at large and School Committee.There is no mayoral race this year, but voters get their first chance in the Sept. 1 preliminary election to cast ballots for at-large, ward council and committee candidates.The last day to register to vote in the preliminary election is Aug. 12.Council and committee candidates were required to meet a 4 p.m. deadline last Friday to take out nomination papers and they have until 4 p.m. today to return papers.As of last Thursday, at-large incumbents Buzzy Barton, Daniel Cahill and Hong Net were listed as preliminary election candidates. Local teacher and union organizer Brian LaPierre?s name is also on the list along with former Councilor at large Timothy Phelan and School Committee member Richard Starbard, who is seeking an at-large seat.Ward 7 Councilor Richard Ford took out nomination papers to run at-large prior to announcing in April he will not be a candidate for city office this year.Other at-large candidates listed as of last week include Essex Street resident Jose Alvarez, South Street resident Edwin Soto and Posan Ung, a teacher and Johnson Street resident.School Committee incumbents Patricia Capano, Maria Carrasco, Donna Coppola and John Ford were listed last week as preliminary election candidates, along with former candidates Dolores DiFillipo, Lorraine Gately and June Natola.Other candidates who pulled nomination papers include local attorney Jared Nicholson, Heffernan Avenue resident Thomas Fiste, attorney Natasha Megie-Maddrey, Elm Street resident Michael Ouk and administrative assistant Sandra Lopez.Preliminary elections for ward council seats could set the stage for the Nov. 3 final election if challengers who pulled nomination papers meet today?s deadline for returning papers.All incumbent ward councilors – Ward 1?s Wayne Lozzi, Ward 2?s William Trahant Jr., Ward 3?s Darren Cyr, Ward 4?s Richard Colucci, Ward 5?s Dianna Chakoutis and Ward 6?s Peter Capano have pulled nomination papers for reelection.Trahant and Capano do not face preliminary election challengers, and political newcomers Brian Field and Jay Walsh are running for the Ward 7 seat held by Rick Ford.The ward challenger listed includes Phaeton Rock Road resident Brendan Carritte, who pulled papers to run for Ward 1; Calvin Anderson is running in Ward 3 and Baltimore Street resident Rick Borten and former Ward 4 candidate Ariana Murrell-Rosario have pulled papers to run in Ward 4.Marven-Rhode Hyppolite, a Liberty Square resident, has pulled papers to run in Ward 5.