LYNN — Ward One City Councilor Wayne Lozzi, Ward Two City Councilor Richard Starbard, and Ward Four City Councilor Richard Colucci are not running for reelection in this year’s race.
Colucci is the longest-serving city councilor in Lynn’s history, with around 31 years of experience as the Ward Four councilor.
In a written statement to The Item in January, Colucci said he is not running again to tend to personal issues and plans on traveling with his wife, Carolina.
“I’ll still be local. When people call me, I’ll help if I can. I want to go on vacation now, and then my wife wants me to go on a vacation too. For 33 years, she’s been with me every year I’ve been doing this, so I have to give her a lot of credit for putting up with it,” Colucci said.
Lozzi has been the Ward One councilor for 20 years. He said it has been a real honor and privilege to hold the position.
“I’m proud of the fact that I’ve accomplished quite a bit,” Lozzi said. “I met all of the goals I set for myself… I’m very happy with where I’m at and having served the city.”
Starbard has been the Ward Two councilor for six years. He said he is not running in order to focus on his business, family, and organizations that he is involved with.
“It is not easy to be all things and everywhere at the same time. While it has been a great experience serving the residents of Lynn as an elected official, it is time to be around for the things that are the most important to me and my family,” Starbard wrote in a statement to The Item.
Starbard said one of his proudest moments as a councilor came after COVID-19 first hit the area. He and his fellow councilors did a large campaign with the Salvation Army to deliver food to seniors and residents who had tested positive for the virus.
“The time, effort, and logistics that went into that operation at one of our most uncertain times in recent memory is something that will stay with me forever and helped form lifelong bonds with my council colleagues,” Starbard wrote. “In the worst of times, I got to work with a group of amazing people who together rose to the challenge on behalf of our resident.”
Another one of the accomplishments that he said he is proud of is developing a system of regular communication with residents through a newsletter and frequent community meetings.
Starbard gave some advice for his successor, saying they should always be open and transparent to constituents. He also thanked the constituents he served in his time as a city councilor.
“It is truly a humbling experience and I feel blessed that I had the opportunity to serve my community, particularly those in Ward Two and those who I served prior to redistricting. I like to think that I had the opportunity to serve the best ward in the city,” Starbard wrote.
Todd Bacon, Paul Gouthro, Jennifer Long, Peter Meaney, Jeff Newhall, and Michael Satterwhite are the candidates for Ward One city councilor this year.
Elizabeth Figueroa and Obed Matul are running for Ward Two city councilor.
Donna Coppola, Chris Gomez, and Natasha Megie-Maddrey are running for Ward Four city councilor.
Colucci endorsed Coppola, who is currently a School Committee member, for Ward Four in the statement from January.
“I would like to see a Ward 4 councilor replacement that is compassionate and experienced. My friend Donna Coppola has these qualities, and I wish her well in her campaign,” Colucci wrote.
Donald Castle, Jose Encarnacion, Richard Felton, Brian Field, Roger Garcia, Brian LaPierre, Nicole McClain, and Hong Net are running for the city’s four councilor-at-large seats. McClain, Field, LaPierre, and Net are running for reelection.
Ward Three City Councilor Coco Alinsug, Ward Five City Councilor Dianna Chakoutis, Ward Six City Councilor Fred Hogan, and Ward Seven City Councilor Jay Walsh are all running for reelection unopposed.
The preliminary election is scheduled for Sept. 5 and the election will be held on Nov. 7.
