LYNN — Ward 3 City Councilor Coco Alinsug has appointed five precinct captains to assist him with conversations and decisions about the ward.
Alinsug met with these captains last week and plans to continue meeting once a month to hear from them about neighbors’ concerns, requests, and what they are hoping to see happen in Ward 3.
“When I decided to run, my goal was really to empower my neighbors and my ward,” Alinsug said. “I promised everybody that I will be a city councilor with a team. I’m not a one-man ward councilor.”
Alinsug said that, when there is a major vote on something in the council that concerns the ward, he and the precinct captains will vote as a team and whatever the result of that vote is will be his vote in the council.
“They give me input and ideas and we will work on that,” Alinsug said. “We’re all transparent and they will be my voice to the council. If they are aware of an issue in their precinct, they will report to me and I’ll bring that message to the City Council.”
Alinsug said he wanted to try this new approach because the majority of people who know him in his ward are those who live in his precinct, Precinct 4.
“A lot of people don’t know me in Precinct 1 and 2, but they know John Hogan in that area, and they know Sue Walker,” Alinsug said. “The idea is for the people to know that there is somebody that they can put a face to who they can reach out to directly.”
Walker, a lifelong Lynn resident who has owned a home in Ward 3 for 20 years, is the Ward 3 – Precinct 1 captain.
She raised five children in Lynn, two graduating from Lynn Classical High School, one from Lynn English High School, one from St. Mary’s, and her last child is now attending Lynn Vocational Technical Institute (LVTI).
Walker is a graduate of Classical and Salem State University who now works at the Lynn Museum as a historical and genealogical researcher
“She loves the history and culture of Lynn,” Alinsug said.
Hogan, who has worked and coached at LVTI for 31 years, is the Ward 3 – Precinct 2 captain.
“John loves being within a 10-minute walk to the beach and many parks close by,” Alinsug said. “He also loves living around people in his ward who are hard-working with a lot of the same values and love for the city.”
Lisa Prak is the Ward 3 Precinct – 3 Captain and has lived in Ward 3 for 31 years.
Prak is an account manager in the commercial-printing trade; she is fluent in Khmer and speaks English as her second language.
“What I love most about Lynn is the energy and diversity our community brings,” she said. “Lynn is built by hard-working families and I’m truly honored to be part of the Ward 3 team.”
Sandra Dee Corneau is one of the captains of Ward 3 – Precinct 4, focusing on the Goldfish Pond area.
Corneau moved to Lynn about 10 years ago, after growing up in Somerville, but loved visiting her aunt and uncle in Lynn as a child, which is why she purchased a house there.
“She takes pride in providing the best services and cares for her community,” Alinsug said. “In addition to her primary responsibilities, she has received a proclamation from the City of Cambridge for going above and beyond the call of duty.”
Bonnie Carr is the other captain for Ward 3 – Precinct 4, focusing on the Diamond District.
Carr serves as the director of workforce development for Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School.
Carr has experience in program development, community partnership cultivation, and grant writing and also has a master’s degree in educational leadership.
“A new era has arrived and the city is on a positive trajectory of inclusivity and opportunity that all of its residents deserve,” Carr said. “I am so excited to be a part of Team Coco for Ward 3 and will work hard as a versatile team member”.
Alinsug also appointed Sandy Anshewitz as the Ward 3 representative for the Citizen Advisory Board (CAB) — which disseminates information and holds public meetings and hearings about the community development program, community needs, and proposals to meet those needs — and Abigail Rosario as a Ward 3 youth intern.
“These are all Lynn residents who love our city and want to do anything and everything for the city without compensation,” Alinsug said. “It’s possible to serve the city in a different capacity. You don’t have to run for public office and get reelected. You can help your city councilor.”
Alinsug said he is excited to continue working with the precinct captains, who he described as being his other set of eyes.
