LYNNFIELD — Albert V. DiVirgilio, who served three terms as mayor in Lynn, says he has at least one more race in him.
The 76-year-old real estate and insurance salesman, who moved to Lynnfield in 2016, is seeking to become the town’s next moderator.
“I want to participate, help, and lend my experience to the town where it can be a benefit,” he said. “I was always interested in being active … I see my role as running a good meeting, allowing everyone to have their say, and acting as an umpire.”
The seat is available in April because of the retirement of Arthur Bourque, who served as moderator for the last six years. To win the post, DiVirgilio must beat Joseph Markey, chairman of the Lynnfield Housing Authority, and former Planning Board member John Faria.
There could be more candidates up until the deadline on Tuesday, Feb. 19. The election will be held Tuesday, April 9. The unpaid post is up for reelection annually.
In addition to presiding over Town Meeting, the moderator appoints six members to the 11-person Finance Committee, and also names Lynnfield’s representative to the North Shore Regional Vocational School District.
DiVirgilio spent nearly two decades on the Lynn City Council before defeating Mayor Antonio J. Marino in the 1985 mayor’s race. He served six years and is credited with successfully desegregating the city’s public schools, keeping taxes low, and finding money to fund the schools following passage of the tax cutting measure Proposition 2 1/2.
But a contentious relationship with union firefighters led to his defeat in 1991 by then City Councilor Patrick J. McManus.
“I had to say no to the firefighters’ request for a raise because the city couldn’t afford it at the time,” he recalled. “It’s true they didn’t support my bid for re-election and that didn’t help.”
DiVirgilio, who has attended two Lynnfield Town Meetings since he moved to town, said he would not be seeking the moderator’s job if Bourque had not retired.
“Arthur did a great job,” he said.
While politics in Lynnfield may have fewer fireworks than Lynn, DiVirgilio said it’s an opportunity for him to provide leadership.
If elected, DiVirgilio said he would work to boost attendance at Town Meeting. Last fall, the session barely had enough voters for a quorum.
The Salem State University graduate and his wife purchased a home on Driftwood Lane in 2016, and last year moved to Locksley Road.
“I’m shocked at how many people I know in town,” he said. “I have family in Lynnfield, I have grandchildren in the schools, and I’ll bet at least 25 percent of the residents came from Lynn or have a connection to the city.”
