Lynn School Committee race is starting to pick up the pace

LYNN – Summer heat has slowed everyone down, but candidates will pick up the pace over the next month as they compete for voter interest during three scheduled candidate forums.The Lynn Community Association scheduled a School Committee candidates forum at LynnArts, 25 Exchange St., Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. A City Council ward candidates forum is scheduled for Aug. 12 at the Lynn Museum, 590 Washington St., at 6:30 p.m.; and a forum for at large council candidates is scheduled on Aug. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Lynn Museum.A council vote last Thursday set the stage for state legislators to approve a home rule petition cancelling the Sept. 1 preliminary election. Voters will go to the polls on Nov. 3 to pick four at large councilors, six committee members and to decide contests in wards 4, 5 and 7.Wednesday?s committee forum gives 10 candidates a chance to state their views on local public schools.Candidates include Elm Street resident Michael Ouk, attorney Jared Nicholson, Beacon Hill Avenue resident Natasha Megie-Maddrey, former city office candidates June Natola and Dolores DiFillipo, former teacher Lorraine Gately and committee members Patricia Capano, Donna Coppola, Maria Carrasco and John Ford.