(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.)
I’m supporting Jared Nicholson for mayor of Lynn. I considered Michael Satterwhite and found his personal story compelling. He has a bright future in public service, but I believe Jared offers the best choice to follow Tommy McGee. I oppose Darren Cyr for reasons that will become clear below.
Mayor McGee is leaving the city in much better shape than he found it. The city’s finances are stabilized with a $28 million reserve and its bond rating is now a healthy ‘A.’ The city employee health insurance plan was changed to a more fiscally-responsible alternative that preserved employee benefits. This solid foundation gives the next mayor many opportunities to reach our potential in a meaningful and inclusive way.
Jared Nicholson is the right candidate for Lynn at the right time. He has the education, experience and, most importantly, temperament for the chief executive position of the city.
He’s served on the School Committee for three terms and is a law professor at Northeastern University, where he specializes in working with small businesses. He founded a legal aid practice in Lynn that provides free legal help to low-income entrepreneurs and small businesses in support of community growth.
Jared is right for this time in Lynn as he is bilingual in English and Spanish. According to The Item, the population of Lynn is now 45 percent Hispanic, so I believe his language proficiency is a decided advantage for the entire community.
Jared published a thoughtful article in the March 2021 issue of Commonwealth Magazine, a prominent journal featuring ideas on state and local governance. He proposed a potential solution to financing the construction of new schools in Lynn. He articulated a well-reasoned approach included in a bill devised by the Lynn legislative delegation to change the outmoded funding formula for new school funding. Thinking of new solutions is imperative to solving old problems.
Jared, his wife Katherine, and 2-year-old son, Henry, are vibrant members of the community. Jared was a wrestler in college and brings that energy to his work and play. He’s organized a wrestling tournament on Lynn Beach and a varsity wrestling team composed of team members from Lynn Tech, Classical and English.
I hear he was grappling and pinning during the most recent match at the beach. He brings this energy and enthusiasm to whatever he tackles, whether it’s assisting state Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) with developing complex legislation to obtain state assistance for the Lynn Public Schools or knocking on doors in all city neighborhoods to meet voters.
I’m also drawn to Jared because he is giving his voice to the issues of the times. He recognizes that the effects of ongoing racism and discrimination divide us in ways that were exacerbated by the pandemic.
I watched how he did not jockey for political advantage during the recent controversy over the Black Lives Matter street art. He joined Mayor McGee and other leaders to support the student proponents. I especially appreciated the clarity and commitment to doing the right thing this policy position demonstrated.
Darren Cyr, on the other hand, behaved like the lifelong politician and government employee he is. He tried to move the City Council order to a committee and voiced displeasure at the affront to his prerogatives as council president and a member of that body. This caused me to look more closely at Darren as a potential mayor. I’m concerned by what I’ve discovered.
I share memories with Darren of Central Square as the epicenter of the city. Theaters, rotisserie chickens turning next to the bus stop, shops full of our relatives and friends. Picture Ozzie and Harriet with “Leave it to Beaver” — June Cleaver meets Lumpy Rutherford (the other L’Esperance on this page) at the Capitol Diner.
If you’re too young to remember any of this, you’re with 75 percent of the population. Those days of General Electric job-fueled crowds are long gone. The transients, as Mr. Cyr calls them, are now our neighbors who have their own ideas of how to move forward.
Jared Nicholson has the skills and experience to provide leadership for inclusive growth. He is the best person for the job this year.
Victor L’Esperance is a political activist with local, state, national and international campaign experience.
