LYNN — Jennifer Long is running to represent Ward One in the City Council, making her the ward’s fifth candidate in this year’s race. Long, who has been a resident of the city for nine years, said she has decided to run to try and make a difference in her community.
In a conversation with The Daily Item, Long said that there are many aspects of Ward One she would like to address as a councilor. Her ideas ranged from fixing and cleaning up the streets to having more security efforts in the city’s schools.
“In Ward One, I can work with the school committee, I can work with all my community people. I’m an extrovert,” Long said. “I like to talk to people and find out what’s going on and see what we can do.”
She said she is tired of “complaining” about issues in Ward One and not seeing things change.
“I’m done sitting back and saying stuff, nothing gets done,” Long said. “I just want to see if I can make a difference.”
When asked why she believes she is qualified to be Ward One’s city councilor, she said as a resident of the ward, she sees what needs to be done.
“I can’t say I’m 100% qualified because no one ever is, but I think I’m qualified enough to where I think I would be a good voice for Ward One and I have no problem… getting my point across to these people that things need to be done,” Long said.
As the Ward One councilor, she would also like to hold community events. She said she sees a lot of events happening in the city — but not in Ward One.
She asked the ward’s voters to give her a shot.
“I can’t make any promises. I’ll try my best, that’s all I can say,” Long said. “It’s time for change and I’ll try my best for you.”
Long currently works as an auto-parts delivery driver for Gem Auto Parts.
She also has an 8-year-old daughter, and one of the reasons she is running is for her daughter, who she said is one of her biggest supporters.
“Please vote for my mama,” a poster her daughter made for the election said.
The other candidates running for Ward One city councilor as of June 21 are Peter Meaney, Todd Bacon, Paul Gouthro, and Michael Satterwhite.
Nomination papers can be pulled until July 14 at 5 p.m., and they can be filed until July 18 at 5 p.m.
Those looking to run for ward-specific City Council seats are required to obtain 100 signatures from that ward.
Those looking to run for a councilor-at-large seat need to obtain 350 signatures, with no more than 100 signatures coming from any one of the city’s seven wards.
