Former state senator and Lynn Mayor Thomas M. McGee endorsed recent Suffolk University Law School graduate and community volunteer Tristan Smith, of Swampscott, to represent the 8th Essex District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Smith, alongside the five other candidates — Jenny Armini, Diann Slavit Baylis, Terri Tauro, Doug Thompson, and Polly Titcomb — are running to represent Marblehead, Swampscott, and Lynn in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Voters will effectively determine the result of the 8th Essex District race in the Massachusetts primary election next Tuesday, Sept. 6 as all six candidates running to replace former Rep. Lori Ehrlich, who is not seeking reelection, are Democrats.
McGee said his first-hand knowledge of Smith and the issues that plague Marblehead, Swampscott, and Lynn are enough to assure him that Smith has the qualities needed to be an effective state legislator.
McGee said he has known Smith for a long time and had the chance to see his leadership in action when Smith worked as a track and cross country coach at St. Mary’s High School, bringing together hundreds of athletes from across Lynn.
“He brought focus and an emphasis on collaboration that was impressive and has led to the tremendous success of those events,” McGee said in a statement. “Having spoken with him about his priorities several times since he announced his candidacy, I am convinced that Tristan is the candidate who best understands this district and has the skills to be the advocate that we need at this time.”
McGee was elected to the House of Representatives in 1995 and was the state senator for the 3rd Essex District from 2002 to 2018. He served as Lynn’s mayor from 2018 until 2022.
“Mayor McGee’s support means so much to me,” Smith said in a statement. “He has led the way on so many important priorities for Marblehead, Swampscott, and Lynn over the course of the last 26 years that he has served our communities.”
Rachel Barber can be reached at [email protected].
