LYNN — When Ward 6 voters go to the polls on Tuesday, they’ll be determining which two candidates will advance to the general election in November.
The race for Ward 6 councilor is the only one that will be impacted by next week’s preliminary election, but the outcomes of other races could serve as a predictor for how other candidates will fare in November.
Five candidates are vying to fill the Ward 6 councilor seat, but the three who receive the lowest amount of votes will be eliminated. Incumbent Fred Hogan, who was selected by the City Council to replace state Rep. Peter Capano (D-Lynn) in January, is facing a challenge from Donald Castle, Cinda Danh, David Ellis and Jimmy Gonzalez.
Hogan, 49, a Grade 2 wastewater operator and site safety coordinator for the Lynn Wastewater Treatment Plant, has said his priorities are fixing up the city’s dilapidated parks and playgrounds, improving public safety and alleviating flooding, which he cited as the ward’s biggest issue.
Castle, 52, assistant chief probation officer in Suffolk Superior Court, has said his priorities, if elected, would be to push for a complete audit of the city’s finances, a more transparent process for and a better site than the one that was defeated for a proposed new Pickering Middle School two years ago, and to alleviate flooding.
Danh, 28, a government relations specialist at PretiStrategies of Boston, said she’s focused on alleviating flooding, cleaning up the area, a lack of affordable housing and more equitable economic development. She’s in favor of the city adopting an inclusionary zoning provision.
Ellis, 60, who serves on the Lynn Water and Sewer Board of Commissioners and is a former city councilor, said his priorities are on improving public safety, in terms of providing more funding for the police, and flood relief.
Gonzalez, 73, a retired factory worker who serves on the Lynn Park Commission, said he would be focused on fixing the ward’s streets and cleaning up the area.
Voters will see a rematch in wards 1, 3 and 5, and seven candidates are vying to fill four at-large seats on the City Council. All candidates in races other than Ward 6 councilor will advance to the general election.
In Ward 1, William O’Shea III, an attorney, is challenging incumbent Wayne Lozzi, an environmental analyst with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, for a second time. Lozzi has held the seat since 2004.
In Ward 3, City Council President Darren Cyr, an investigator with the Massachusetts State Lottery, is facing a challenge for the second time from George Meimeteas, a real estate company owner. Cyr has held the seat since 2006.
To retain her seat, Ward 5 Councilor Dianna Chakoutis, a manager at Old Tyme Italian Cuisine restaurant, will have to fend off challenger Marven Hyppolite, a caseworker for U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass), for a third time. Chakoutis has held her seat since 2014.
The only uncontested councilor race is for Ward 2, with Rick Starbard running unopposed and seeking a second term.
In Ward 4, Richard Colucci, a real estate agent, faces a challenge from Natasha Megie-Maddrey, an attorney who ran unsuccessfully for School Committee two years ago. Colucci has held the seat non-consecutively since 1990.
Ward 7 Councilor John “Jay” Walsh, a former General Electric Co. employee who now works for his family’s oil company, is being challenged by Alexis Reynoso, a business owner. Walsh has held the seat since 2016.
The at-large race features four incumbents running for re-election and three challengers.
Buzzy Barton, a retired firefighter has held his seat since 2012.
Brian Field, a funeral director at Solimine Funeral Home is seeking a second term.
Brian LaPierre, director of organization at the American Federal of Teachers Massachusetts and a former teacher has held his seat since 2016.
Hong Net, a child support enforcement specialist at the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, became a city councilor in 2012.
The challengers are Joel Hyppolite, no relation to Marven Hyppolite; Jose M. Encarnacion, an administrator at the Dominican Republic Consulate; and Lennin Ernesto Pena, a Class 1 operator at the city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Eight candidates are seeking to fill the six School Committee seats. The race features six incumbents and two challengers.
The incumbents seeking to retain their seats are Brian Castellanos, a social worker for the Department of Children and Families; Donna Coppola, a case manager at JOI Childcare Center; John Ford, a retired General Electric employee; Lorraine Gately, a former Lynn Public Schools teacher; Jared Nicholson, a law professor at Northeastern University; and Michael Satterwhite, an attorney at The Satterwhite Law Firm P.C.
The challengers are Sandra Lopez, who works in healthcare, and Tiffany Jean Magnolia, a professor at North Shore Community College.
Polls are open on Tuesday, Sept. 3 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Ward 1, Precinct 1 will vote at Shoemaker School. Ward 1, Precinct 2 will vote at Pondview Lodge. Ward 1, Precinct 3 and 4 will vote at Sisson School.
All of Ward 2 will vote at St. Pius Lower Church Hall. Ward 3 will vote at Marshall Middle School. Ward 4 will vote at Harrington Elementary School.
Ward 5 will vote at Lynn Vocational Technical Institute Annex; Ward 6 will be at Lynn Tech Fieldhouse and Ward 7 will be at Breed Jr. High School.
