PEABODY — No matter who wins, Ward 6 will have a new city councilor this fall for the first time in six years.
Incumbent Mark O’Neill opted not to run for re-election this fall, clearing the way for a three-headed race to replace him. Billy Cardello, Ryan Cox, and Michael Higgins all sought to claim a spot on the council representing the ward. Cardello was eventually eliminated from the race during preliminary elections in September. In that election, Higgins emerged as the top vote-getter in the race, collecting 494 votes compared to Cox’s 315.
O’Neill endorsed Higgins as his successor, writing that his “business experience and education provide him with the skills to serve as an effective leader.”
“His work ethic and community service demonstrate to me that he will be responsive to help Ward 6 residents with their issues whenever possible,” O’Neill said.
Cox collected the endorsement of the North Shore Labor Council, a coalition of 51 unions representing 18,000 working people across the North Shore.
“We need city councilors that demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting unions, workers’ rights, and economic justice,” the union wrote.
In advance of the Nov. 7 election, The Daily Item sat down with both candidates, who spoke about their visions for Ward 6 and why they want to join the City Council.
Ryan Cox
Ryan Cox is making his first run at city government this upcoming election with his campaign to represent Ward 6 in the City Council. After getting involved in a housing development in his neighborhood, he realized he wanted to be more than just a citizen with a voice.
The 37-year-old Peabody High School Class of 2005 graduate has called the city home his entire life. He and his wife, Suzanne Jobski, are currently raising their 10-month-old daughter. He works as a pipefitter with Pipefitters Local 357 and also makes pipe-accented furniture out of his home with his business, North Shore Reclaimed Furniture. Cox’s trade background segues into one important task he would like to handle if elected.
With the city in need of a new high school, Cox would like to see more diverse trade opportunities return to the curriculum.
“Right now, kids are going to Essex Tech before going on to college,” Cox said. “So a lot of kids are using Essex Tech as their high school because Peabody doesn’t have a strong high school… We used to have a vocational program, but they don’t offer plumbing, electrical, carpentry, auto-body, stuff like that.”
Following along with what inspired him to run in the first place, Cox wants to take a close look at the amount of housing developments going on in Ward 6 and the city as a whole.
“They’re trying to build everywhere,” Cox said. “I was just at a Zoning Board of Appeals meeting Monday for another parcel of land at the top of Winona Street where they are looking to build a 55-plus community on 4.8 acres of land, when 25 is required.”
He believes overdevelopment could create public-safety issues such as high traffic volume and school overcrowding.
An affordable development catered to the elderly community is something Cox feels the city needs. He expressed his regret that the recently completed Birch Hill Estates did not fall into that category.
Some other ideal outcomes for Cox include improving city sidewalks and revamping downtown in the same vein as Lynnfield’s MarketStreet. Cox has been endorsed by his union, Local 537, North Shore Building Trades, and the North Shore Labor Council.
Michael Higgins
Michael Higgins hopes to become an advocate for the citizens of the city he raised his family in.
Originally from Reading, Higgins first took residence in the city nearly 30 years ago when he married his wife and Peabody native, Sheila Higgins. He graduated from Northeastern University with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He would later earn a master’s degree in business administration at Boston University as well. With his youngest of three children graduating from college this May, Higgins now has the bandwidth to pursue his goal of serving as city councilor.
“What motivated me to run was the love of the neighborhood,” Higgins said. “We love Ward 6 and Peabody in general.”
He cited his desire for input on the multiple housing developments currently underway in his ward, such as a motivating factor to run. He believes that some of the units are more beneficial to the city than others.
“The Birch Hill Estates happened, which is a 23-home development near the neighborhood,” Higgins said. “This is an example of a development that is good for the community. We have another project that’s been proposed on the end of Winona Street… those are the kinds of changes that really affect the neighborhood and the ward in a negative way.”
Higgins also aspires to be a “fiscal hawk” when it comes to tax spending, as he feels it’s important to focus tax dollars on the proper projects in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A city-wide task Higgins believes needs attention is the potential reparation to the Veterans Memorial High School building.
“It’s a 50-year-old building that has all kinds of infrastructure issues,” Higgins said. “We can’t continue putting Band-Aids on some of these repairs that need to be done. That school building will need to be replaced.”
If elected, Higgins said he is excited to represent all ages and demographics in Ward 6 and the entire city of Peabody.
