LYNN — It’s been awhile since State Sen. Thomas M. McGee has faced an opponent.
In 2010, the Lynn Democrat defeated Christopher Dent of Nahant by a 2-to-1 margin to retain his senate seat.
Despite not having a race in seven years, McGee, 61, said it didn’t take long to hit his stride on the campaign trail to unseat two-term Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy.
“Whether I have a campaign or not, I’m connecting with people, working on issues, doing constituent work and being part of the ongoing discussion on many issues,” he said.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Item’s editorial board Tuesday, McGee said he’s running to fulfill the city’s promise.
As he campaigns and knocks on doors, McGee said the major complaints he hears about include the region’s infrastructure, traffic, pedestrian safety, late night noise, building new schools, and public safety.
On the overwhelming “no” vote for two new middle schools by voters last spring, McGee said the process and the location were flawed.
In a special election in March, voters rejected two ballot questions that would have authorized a $188.5 million plan for a 652-student school on Parkland Avenue and a second school to house 1,008 students on McManus Field on Commercial Street.
“The discussion was divisive and there are good people on both sides of it,” he said. “People are looking for the issue to be revisited and have a broader discussion on the state of our schools, and how do we get to yes in a way people in the community can support it. That means a robust discussion and engaging people.”
McGee pledged he would work closely with the City Council, School Committee, the Beacon Hill delegation, and the neighborhoods.
“It’s about bringing people in the community together so they feel connected to City Hall,” he said. “It’s about bridging the gap between what you might feel philosophically but realizing there’s common ground.”
If elected, McGee said he would meet with the department heads at City Hall and work as a team to get the job done. What’s needed, he said, is to build cohesion so decisions are made with the larger goal of moving the city forward.
“What I’m hearing from people is there is a disconnect between City Hall and people in the community,” he said. “City Hall is the people’s place and everyone needs to feel welcome.”
McGee said Lynn’s troubles will continue unless the city can close its budget gap of up to $8.5 million. That would mean bringing in more money than the city spends.
“We’ve drained all of our savings completely over the last four years and taxed up to the 2 ½ percent cap,” he said. “What we don’t want is a substantial crisis becoming a catastrophic one.”
