LYNN — More than three months after Ward 2 City Councilor Rick Starbard announced he would not run for re-election in 2023, he endorsed business owner and Lynn resident Obed Matul for the Ward 2 City Council chair.
Monday, March 20, marks the official start of the 2023 local election for City Council and the School Committee. Starbard said he chose to back Matul because of his business perspective as a North Shore Chamber of Commerce member and his commitment to communicate regularly with constituents.
“He’s always engaged in Ward 2 activities and comes to regular meetings. He’s invested in both where he lives and where he runs his business. I think he would be a great candidate, and that’s why I’m supporting him,” Starbard said.
Matul moved to Lynn from Guatemala with his parents when he was eight years old. After 28 years living in Lynn, he now serves on the Pine Grove Cemetery Commission and owns and operates the graphics and signs business Full Color.
Starbard added that Matul’s fluency in both English and Spanish would help him serve Lynn’s hispanic community in a fast and effective manner.
“The job of a ward counselor is constituent service. Being able to return calls and emails quickly is a must. The fact that Obed is extremely fluent in both Spanish and English, that’s a big plus for him,” Starbard said.
If elected, Matul said that he wants to make government departments more accessible to constituents by finding ways to improve communication between the two.
One particular lapse in constituent service that Matul said could be remedied with improved communication is a lack of snow plowing on small streets in Ward 2. Matul said by engaging with constituents on social media and holding regular ward meetings, he can work to make sure that all streets are cleaned during a snowstorm.
“In my own experience, I’ve tried to reach different departments at City Hall and it’s always been a little hard for me,” Matul said. “I will be the counselor who, if there’s a snowstorm, will be driving around to see where we need to plow, where we need to tell DPW (Department of Public Works) ‘this street needs to get cleaned.’ ”
Matul said he would also like to work to enhance security around Ward 2 schools. He lives on Chatham Street near Hood Elementary School, where he brings his daughter. He said he often sees young children walking to school by themselves without a security guard or police officer outside the school.
“I’ve never once seen a police officer or a security guard standing outside,” Matul said. “Anybody could easily grab a kid. I don’t think it’s just an issue at that school, we need more security around schools in the city.”
Matul said whether or not he’s elected in November, he will continue to attend park cleanups, ward meetings, and other community events.
“Candidates in other elections in past elections, they show up, they go to meetings, they go here and there during election season, but then after election season is done, you don’t see them anymore. I will continue to be engaged in the community,” Matul said.
Matul is running against Ward 2 candidate Elizabeth Figueroa, who ran against Starbard in 2021 and lost by 568 votes. Figueroa could not be reached for comment after numerous interview requests between Jan. 26 and March 18.
