LYNN — All eyes are on the race for the first ward this election season, with four candidates now competing for Ward 1 City Councilor Wayne Lozzi’s seat.
Lozzi, who has held his position since he was first elected in 2003, said in an interview Monday morning that he had not yet decided whether or not he would seek re-election this November. If he decides to run, he said he will “continue working hard” to serve his constituents.
March 20 marked the first day for candidates to fill out their nomination papers, officializing their campaigns. There are currently four candidates in the ring for Ward 1 — Peter Meaney, Todd Bacon, Paul Gouthro, and Michael Satterwhite — all of whom pulled nomination papers Monday.
In a series of interviews with The Item, all four candidates discussed the improvements they would like to see in Ward 1, and the reasons why each candidate believes he is the best fit for the job.
Peter Meaney
Owner of Broadway Family Dental Dr. Peter Meaney announced his intention to run for City Council in October. He said in an interview last fall that he wanted to run to improve communication between city government and its constituents.
In an interview Monday, Meaney said that he hopes to work toward building class spaces for Lynn’s growing student population. He said that the plan to build the new Pickering School on a floodplain site is a sign that local government needs a “fresh perspective.”
“We have an ever-increasing school age population and we literally have no place to put them,” Meaney said. “We need someone to step in, take a look at it, and see if we can do better.”
Meaney praised Mayor Jared Nicholson’s plan to attract life sciences companies in the downtown area. He said that if elected, he would like to implement tax incentives for businesses that move into the city and offer Lynners high-paying jobs.
Job creation, Meaney said, is key to remedying issues like substance abuse, housing insecurity, and street violence. He said that with Lynn’s outdoor spaces, waterfront, and cityscape, all it needs to prosper is a thriving economy.
“We can use tax incentives to ensure that not only we attract businesses, but that we attract businesses that are going to hire our kids,” Meaney said. “If we don’t have good jobs for the kids, we get all the associated problems that go along with having no jobs. Jobs are the number one issue in Lynn, not tomorrow, but the day after tomorrow.”
Todd Bacon
Todd Bacon, owner of Bacon Construction, announced his decision to run for City Council last week. He said in an interview Monday morning that he decided to run last year while he organized the Gowdy Park Fourth of July celebration.
Bacon said that if elected, he hopes to use his expertise in the construction business to alleviate traffic congestion expected to arise near Broadway and Conomo Avenue during the new Pickering school construction. He said that he also wants to find ways to alleviate traffic brought on by the Lynnfield Street Reconstruction Project.
“I will be at every meeting trying to help out,” Bacon said. “In terms of suggesting traffic routes and things like that, I’ve been in construction for 35 years, so I understand the process.”
As the city develops housing across Ward 1, Bacon said that he wishes to expand emergency services to ensure that first responders have adequate resources to react quickly to 911 calls.
With a 150-unit senior affordable housing center being built at the former Union Hospital site on Lynnfield Street, Bacon said that he plans to work with the city to re-activate the Lynnfield Street Fire Station, which has been closed for more than 10 years.
“Broadway Fire does a great job responding, but with hundreds and hundreds of houses going up in there, I really think we need to get that firehouse operating,” Bacon said.
Bacon added that as a city councilor, he would regularly communicate with his community to address and respond to constituents’ needs.
“I’m committed to listening, learning, and responding to the concerns of the residents of Ward 1,” Bacon said. “They’re my main priority, and I just want to get them in the loop and let them know what’s going on.”
Paul Gouthro
U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, former General Electric engine test engineer, and Conservation Commission member Paul Gouthro said that he wants to use an electronic newsletter and bi-monthly ward meetings to remain in constant contact with his constituents to better address his ward’s needs.
Gouthro said he wants to make sure that Ward 1, including Gowdy Park, gets its fair share as the city develops.
“Maybe a nice million dollar playground at Gowdy Park. I want to make sure that Ward 1 is heard,” Gouthro said. “I’ll hear what Ward 1 wants, and I will then convey that to the city and then to the state delegation.”
Last week, Gouthro stepped down from his position on the Conservation Commission in order to avoid any conflicts of interest that might arise during his campaign. Even though he’s no longer involved with the commission, he said that he will do everything possible as a city councilor to protect Ward 1’s natural landscapes.
Gouthro described himself as a team player and an agent of change. He said he will make sure that everyone’s voice — from his constituents to his fellow city councilors — will be heard when the city makes decisions. If elected, Gouthro said he would make his current opponents ward captains.
“All the people that are running with me are great people with individual strengths. What makes me a step above all of them is that I have the ability to lean on those individuals and utilize all those individuals,” Gouthro said. “My campaign logo is ‘Change is good,’ and I truly mean that. I’m a change agent. I like change. Because usually, when you change anything, you change it for the better.”
Michael Satterwhite
Former School Committee member, 2021 mayoral candidate and attorney Michael Satterwhite announced his run for Ward 1 on Friday.
In an interview Monday, Satterwhite said that he hopes to take a leadership role in the new Pickering School construction project. He said he wants to help it move forward with a sense of urgency and more input from residents.
“Being part of the committee that actually got the approval from the School Building Association, I think that my insight on it can definitely help move that project forward in a way where the community’s voice is better heard,” Satterwhite said.
Satterwhite also said that he plans to find ways to alleviate traffic caused by the Lynnfield Street construction project. Working out of an office at 125 Lynnfield St., he said he understands the inconvenience that comes with constant traffic and shaking structures in the area.
Satterwhite said that even though the Lynnfield Street construction is a nuisance to Ward 1 residents, he hopes to help facilitate one of the project’s primary goals — redirecting stormwater runoff out of Flax Pond and Sluice Pond.
When asked what sets him apart from his opponents in the race for Ward 1, Satterwhite said that his experience allocating funds equitably throughout the school district as a school committee member would translate into his role as a city leader.
“We need to make sure that whatever we’re putting in this budget also impacts the residents of Ward 1,” Satterwhite said. “About half the budget goes to the public school system and so being a part of that process, managing the majority of the city’s budget sets me apart from those that are running as well.”
Satterwhite added that he prides himself on his transparency and honesty as a public official.
“My public persona and my private persona are one and the same. I’m not going to tell you one thing and do something differently,” he said. “What you’re going to get from me is transparency, accessibility, and making sure that we have a community that’s growing and prospering.”
Candidates running for School Committee or City Council have until July 18 to file nomination papers. Those wishing to vote in the 2023 local elections must register before Aug. 25.
