LYNN – In their final debate before next Tuesday’s election, Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy and rival state Sen. Thomas M. McGee (D-Lynn) explained why they should lead the city for the next four years.
At a standing room only forum in the Community Brotherhood Club, the candidates laid out their visions for Lynn.
The two-term mayor said she will continue the progress made with the construction of much-needed apartments, a Market Basket at the former General Electric Co. site, a new middle school, renovated parks, reverse 911, and free recycling bins.
McGee said while Lynn is a great place and offers the waterfront, Lynn Woods Reservation, a golf course, and a vibrant downtown, there’s more to be done.
“Lynn will celebrate its 400th anniversary in 2029 and we’re a good place, but we can do better,” he said.
Moderator Darrell Murkison, a Community Brotherhood board member and president of the African American Leadership Council, challenged each candidate to increase the number of African Americans on the police and fire departments. In the city’s schools, where the majority of students are children of color, he said just 15 percent of its teachers are people of color.
“Of the 170 police officers in the city, six are African American and of the 210 firefighters, just eight are African American,” Murkison said.
Both candidates pledged to do more to boost minority hiring. Kennedy said when first elected, she directed the police department to develop a list of minority candidates to choose from when a job became open. In addition, while she gave School Superintendent Dr. Catherine Latham high marks in a recent evaluation, she gave her a low grade for failing to recruit teachers of color.
“I marked her low in the outreach to communities of color,” Kennedy said.
McGee said the key is working with communities of color so they know when jobs become available.
“We need to work with the community to meet that goal,” he said.
In one testy exchange in the hour-long debate, Kennedy named the minority staff she has hired, including Lynn District Fire Chief Steve Archer. She asked McGee to name the minority members of his senate staff.
“The mayor knows my staff,” he said. “I have a small staff, one man and the rest are women, including my chief of staff.”
He said as chair of the Democratic Party he recruited minorities.
“My record stands for itself,” he said to loud applause.
On public safety and the dwindling number of police officers and firefighters, McGee said the city’s budget deficit has forced the department to end its community policing and police on bike programs. He suggested a Neighborhood Watch where residents and police work together to reduce crime.
“The first thing we need to do is stabilize our budget,” he said.
Kennedy blamed the reductions in the police and fire departments on the city’s growing school population which, she said, has depleted any free cash from the city’s budget.
“The school budget has increased 3 percent annually while our revenues grow at a maximum of 2 percent,” she said.
On what can be down to slow gentrification, Kennedy said a recent report revealed that nearly 23 percent of the city’s housing stock is affordable. The new $31 million Gateway Residences on Washington Street offers 71 new apartments. Of that number, 63 are affordable, she said.
“We’ve exceeded the state goal of 10 percent affordable units,” she said. “It’s time for neighboring communities to offer housing working people can afford. Swampscott, Peabody and Nahant need to do their share.”
McGee said 50 percent of Lynn residents pay more than 30 percent of their income toward housing. He said it’s a challenge being faced by many communities in the state.
“People are being forced out of Lynn due to the high cost of housing,” he said. “As we create development opportunities, we need a plan in place to create affordable housing.”
