(Brothers David and Victor L’Esperance love politics and love to debate (some might even call it argue). The Item took them up on their offer to comment on the upcoming elections in Lynn. What follows is their take on the mayoral race. Their commentaries will run periodically throughout the campaign season.)
My memories of growing up in Lynn on Euclid Avenue with my four siblings, my grandmother and parents are something I would never trade. Our family availed ourselves of all that Lynn had to offer — the beach, the Commons, Lynn Woods, Gannon Golf Course and our beautiful parks and playgrounds.
We had a great home and upbringing and all of us are proud Lynners. Why? Because Lynn afforded my family and others great opportunities and all of my siblings became successful in their own ways.
After retiring from a law enforcement career, I decided to return to my hometown and open a law practice in downtown Lynn. I have seen the many improvements the city has made in recent years downtown and on the Lynnway.
I took note of the active and involved city councilors. One of these active and involved councilors has been my friend, Council President Darren Cyr.
Darren grew up in East Lynn, not far from my own family. In earlier years, our paths periodically crossed, such as when Darren was a shop steward at General Electric when I was employed there.
I observed firsthand Darren helping others, a characteristic that continues to this day. I know that Darren strongly believes in the benefits a union provides for its membership and their families. Many will recall that Darren was one of the founding members of the North Shore Labor Council, a coalition of union locals that provide unified support for each other’s endeavors and principles.
In recent years, and for the first time in almost a half century, development in Lynn has taken off and Darren’s tireless efforts advocating for the city have played a crucial role in Lynn’s resurgence. Darren has worked tirelessly to see that what is built provides not only new, much-needed tax revenue, but provides other benefits to Lynn.
For example, Darren is calling for a “linkage fee” that would require any new development on the Lynnway to provide funds to construct a new public safety building with a fully-manned firehouse and police substation. Thinking ahead, and planning for the future, is what Darren does best. Darren has led the way as council president, meticulously preparing annual budgets resulting in Lynn achieving an “A” bond rating.
Public safety concerns all of us. Prior to serving as council president, Darren served as chairman of the council’s Committee on Public Safety. As a lifelong Lynner and the only mayoral candidate to serve on the City Council that is wrestling with Lynn’s challenges, Darren’s understanding of the city’s needs is unmatched. The recently-released U.S. Census revealed that Lynn’s population tops 100,000. Such a dramatic increase in our population demands additional police and fire personnel and equipment upgrades.
Darren is the only candidate to have supported and saw to fruition the construction of a new school in Lynn during the past quarter century. Thurgood Marshall Middle School is a model for all new school construction projects and has revitalized a neighborhood. Darren has pledged himself to the construction of new school buildings.
It is an honor that The Item allowed my brother, Vic, and me to submit writings supporting our respective candidates for mayor. I will note that I feel that some are underestimating candidate Michael Satterwhite and his support, and his vote will be stronger than expected.
Now, with respect to Victor, who is a resident of Salem and a citizen of Ireland, I believe he has forgotten his Lynn roots. Vic, all true Lynners know that the Clancy Brothers aren’t an Irish folk band; they were Chip and Jimmy. The Deans aren’t running colleges; they owned Christy’s at the Nahant Rotary. And when someone speaks of Pat, they are referring to Pat McManus, not “Pat” the Patriots’ mascot. So kindly explain this to Jared.
Darren is the candidate with the knowledge and experience to be ready to serve as mayor on day one. He has served on the City Council for 16 years and personally knows every department head and their clerical staff. There will be no learning curve under a Cyr administration.
I proudly endorse my friend and strongly urge that you vote for Darren Cyr for mayor on Sept. 14.
David L’Esperance is a retired law enforcement professional now practicing law in Lynn.
