LYNN — Mayoral candidate and City Council President Darren Cyr launched his campaign Saturday with an outdoor gathering of about 30 supporters during the grand opening of his campaign headquarters on Andrew Street.
As part of a short ceremony in which he spoke about his qualifications as a candidate, Cyr named affordable housing and better education for Lynn students as two of his top priorities.
“I’m about the future of our city. We need to build schools. We need better education for our kids,” he said, describing Lynn’s vocational school as a little-known asset to the community. “Not all kids need to go to college. They can go to Lynn Tech, learn a trade, and they can make as much as any lawyer or doctor anywhere, and they don’t have to owe money back in all these loans.”
He touted his work on a $100 million project to replace Thurgood Marshall Middle School as an example of what Lynn schools could be, adding that better schools will entice more families to stay in the city.
Cyr also said bringing market-rate units to Lynn will take care of affordable housing issues currently plaguing the city, suggesting that drawing in higher-income residents would help boost the local economy.
He pointed out that the median income for a family of four in Lynn is $45,000 — a stark contrast to other parts of the Greater Boston area.
“I’m tired of Lynn always missing the boat, having to play catchup to other communities,” he said. “I have met with hundreds of different developers over the years who want to come here to the city, and I believe we can bring a lot of development that everybody can benefit from.
“People with disposable income will bring tax dollars here, and we can come up with a plan that makes sense for people who need affordable housing.”
Cyr also emphasized the work being done by Lynn’s diverse population to help the city bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Latino community and their churches, they’ve started to administer (COVID-19 vaccinations) to everybody. It’s very important that we continue to do that and give support to them,” he said. “They’ve been working with the Lynn (Community) Health Center and doing a lot not just for their community, but for all of our communities.”
The 16-year Ward 3 councilor was endorsed by a number of community leaders, including Obed Matul, owner of Lynn graphic design company Full Color, as well as former Ward 2 Councilor William Trahant, and current Ward 2 Councilor Rick Starbard.
“Ever since I’ve known him, he’s shown to me and my community that he can be a leader,” Matul said. “He has also shown that he has passion for the community. Just look at his record throughout the pandemic: He was out there, he was helping, he was leading the other councilors and working together to bring food to (those who needed it).”
Cyr and his campaign manager, Joselyne Reynoso, said the location of the headquarters was carefully selected, with its spot inside a medium-income development at 38 Andrew St. in downtown Lynn meant to highlight the campaign’s focus on revitalizing the city’s commercial hub.
“The reason we picked this area is because it’s in the heart of the city and we’re trying to encourage the revitalization of the downtown,” Cyr said. “We’re coming out of the pandemic, so we’re trying to get people to come downtown and frequent the restaurants and the stores that are down here.”
Being accessible to the local community is also an integral part of Cyr’s campaign, Reynoso added.
“We want to let everybody know that they’re welcome to come by, they’re welcome to reach out at any time, Monday through Sunday,” she said. “We’re here, we’re visible, we’re accessible.”
Cyr, who declared his candidacy in March after Mayor Thomas M. McGee announced he would not run for re-election this fall, will face longtime School Committee members Jared Nicholson and Michael Satterwhite, and newcomer Keith Lee in November’s election.
“I think experience is the most important thing,” Cyr said. “Leadership by example — I think I’ve proven that.”
