LYNN ― Richard Colucci is running for reelection for Ward 4 city councilor, a seat he has held for nearly 30 years.
Colucci was born on Lowell Street in the Brickyard neighborhood, but moved to Ward 4 when he was 2 years old and has lived there ever since.
Colucci attended Lynn Public Schools and Newbury College.
At the age of 25, Colucci was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease ― which his twin brother was also later diagnosed with ― and had to undergo radiation treatment, which he said prevented him from being able to have kids.
He also lost his mother to a form of blood cancer at the age of 18, which he said was heartbreaking to witness.
After leaving Newbury College, Colucci opened Buffalo Bill’s Roast Beef shop on Union Street. He owned this roast beef shop for eight years before selling it and moving on to work in real estate.
Colucci is still working in real estate after more than 15 years.
Colucci’s wife of 33 years, Carolina, suggested he run for City Council nearly 30 years ago, and he said he is running again because he loves what he does and loves being able to help people.
“That’s what life is about,” he said.
Colucci said his favorite thing about Ward 4 is the people.
“I am grateful to represent one of the most diverse wards in the city, where I get to help residents from all different backgrounds and walks of life,” he said. “Their calls and concerns make our city better, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Ward 4 residents.”
His other favorite things in the ward include his childhood park, High Rock, and the beach.
If reelected, Colucci said he plans to continue addressing issues including development, affordable housing, safe neighborhoods, infrastructure, and focusing on seniors and youth.
“Development and affordable housing are both important in Ward 4,” Colucci said. “Our small businesses need the foot traffic of persons with disposable income to thrive. Development increases the tax revenue and, with it, the financial security of the city, which helps burdened homeowners with lower taxes, and helps renters because the cost of property taxes is not passed on to tenants.”
Colucci said he plans to create a balance between development and affordable housing, to expand initiatives that benefit the youth and senior citizens, and to keep the city clean.
“We need capital investments in our infrastructure such as schools and roads and (we need to) continually work towards safe neighborhoods,” he said.
Colucci plans to continue his commitment to support the lowest tax rate and tax burden, while increasing revenue.
He also said he will continue to host crime-watch meetings in Ward 4, do everything he can to create housing for a price that working families can afford, increase the city-sponsored youth-employment and youth programs, and continue advocating with developers to ensure that a percentage of units being developed are affordable.
“The increase in demand and lack of supply of housing has created a price increase in homes and rents in Lynn and in Massachusetts,” Colucci said. “Many Lynn residents can no longer afford to buy a home and can barely cover the rent.”
In the past, Colucci placed demolition orders on nuisance properties of landlords that did not provide a safe place for their tenants, and created opportunities in Ward 4 for affordable home ownership and affordable rents.
Some examples of this include the single-family homes on Union Street, the Herbert Street (Buffum Estates) development, and the Washington Street (Gateway North) development.
“I also worked with my colleagues to turn the old, city-owned Marshall Middle School into a future housing development for our senior citizens,” Colucci said.
In the past, Colucci said he successfully lobbied for the mayor and community development to hire at least one person to clean the downtown area, and plans to do the same with the new administration “to ensure our city is clean on an ongoing basis.”
Colucci is running against Natasha Megie-Maddrey for the Ward 4 seat. To learn more about Colucci and his work, visit www.colucciforward4.com. City elections are on Nov. 2.
