Preliminary election is no contest in Lynn

LYNN – The City Council, after a public hearing Thursday that gave the community a chance to voice its opinions on whether the preliminary election should be held, voted unanimously to send a home rule petition to the state Legislature asking for an exemption as well as a provision allowing write-in candidates in the November election.For the most part, the speakers at the hearing felt that the preliminary would be a waste of the city’s money.”So many times this city is confronted with unexpected expenses,” said Lynn District Fire Chief Arthur Richard. “This winter was one example. We have an opportunity to save a great deal of money, and I think we should embrace that opportunity.””Each one of these elections cost the police department approximately $25,000,” said Deputy Chief Michael Mageary. “If we don’t have this election, that money can be used for proactive programs.”Others made the argument that canceling the preliminary would take away from local politics.Constantine Yanakakis, who has been a resident of Lynn for 58 years, said he was “opposed to any measure that would oppose our resident voters.””Elections have been a part of the American form of government,” Yanakakis said. “It allows for people to select their managers and official representatives. To make the elimination of the preliminary election is a choice that should not and must not be made.”Ultimately, the council voted not to have the preliminary in favor of one election in November.If the preliminary was to be held, there would not be enough candidates to challenge all of the current positions. The purpose of a preliminary would be to narrow down the amount of candidates for the general election.There are seven City Council wards, and only three are being contested by just a single challenger each. There are four at-large seats with only six candidates.It will cost the city a lot of money and the outcome would be the same, opponents of the preliminary argued. Paying 168 poll workers and police officers who work on election days as well as ordering, coding and testing ballots are just a few of the expenses.”This would be over $125,000 we would be saving,” said City Council President Daniel Cahill.Instead, all candidates will appear on the final election ballot, and write-in candidates will also be allowed.The next step will be for Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy to sign off on the decision, something that she has expressed likelihood to do.Cahill was “very certain” that Kennedy would approve.”Hopefully we will get the mayor’s signature tomorrow,” he said.It will then go to the state Legislature, which, Cahill feels, is likely to favor the decision.”We’ve had an open dialogue about it,” he said. “It wouldn’t have gotten this far without an open dialogue.”The council voted to put an emergency motion on the petition, ensuring a decision is reached with enough time to notify the public of any changes before the scheduled preliminary, which is less than a month and a half away.