LYNN — Despite dissatisfaction from the City Council, a new ward and precinct map for the city has been adopted by the state-appointed Local Election District Review Commission.
The map approved on Dec. 17 made significant changes to six of the seven wards in the city.
Some of these changes include the neighborhoods connected by Chatham, Fayette, Essex and Parrot streets in Ward 2 now existing in Ward 3, and the neighborhood bordered by Allen Avenue to Essex Street and Highland Avenue and Rockaway Street moving from Ward 4, Precinct 2 to Ward 2, Precinct 3, according to the map.
Ward 2 also lost Stanwood Street, half of Linton Road, and parts of Maple Street and Euclid Avenue to Ward 1. Another change impacts the River Street area by the Saugus River, which has traditionally been part of Ward 6. The new map shifts four streets — River Street, Camden Street, Canal Street, and Needham Landings Road — over to Ward 7, according to Assistant City Solicitor James Lamanna.
For the state delegation, Rep. Daniel Cahill (D-Lynn) picks up Ward 5, Precinct 2 from Rep. Peter Capano (D-Lynn), and part of Ward 1, Precinct 2 from Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus). Rep. Lori Ehrlich (D-Marblehead) picks up a small section of Ward 4, Precinct 3 from Capano, and gains Merrill, Burrill and Phillips avenues, as this neighborhood moved from Ward 3, Precinct 3 to Ward 3, Precinct 4, Lamanna said.
The map was created by a working group of city-election officials, including City Clerk and Elections Chief Janet L. Rowe. The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s census division provided technical assistance in the process.
The map drafted decreased the number of sub-precincts from 11 to two. The 11 sub-precincts were created by two overlapping maps — one drafted and approved by the City Council on Oct. 26, 2021 and a state legislature drafted map passed by Gov. Charlie Baker on Nov. 4, 2021. The deadline to approve the fixed map was Dec. 16, just one day after the maps were presented.
The City Council rejected adopting this fixed map on Dec. 15, saying they did not receive enough time to let their constituents know of the changes. As a result of this vote, per Massachusetts law, the Local Election District Review Commission is required to appoint a special master to redraw the wards and precincts.
However, Debra O’Malley, press secretary of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Bill Galvin, said the commission decided to adopt the proposed map rather than appoint a special master and restart the redistricting process.
“Rather than appoint a special master, they adopted the new map,” said O’Malley. “The map went into effect on Dec. 31.”
Ward 2 Councilor Rick Starbard said he was frustrated with the process of adopting the new map, particularly in how the City Council did not get a say in the matter.
“The City Council took issue as to how this was presented to us at the 11th hour and voted the changes down unanimously,” Starbard said.
Ward 1 Councilor Wayne Lozzi said he was unhappy with the sudden notification as well. He said he and his fellow councilors were forced to approve the new map.
“We were not allowed to notify residents of their potential new precincts or voting locations,” said Lozzi. “We were being dictated on what to do.”
Starbard also expressed disappointment that the new map adopted by the Local Election District Review Commission was the one the City Council had rejected. Nevertheless, Starbard said the new map is now in effect and will notify constituents of any changes in their polling places.
“It wasn’t a surprise that it played out this way as that was pretty much what the guy said the night of the meeting,” said Starbard. ”At this point, it is what it is and no sense beating a dead horse.”
