LYNN – This election season, four city councilors are running unopposed and will therefore retain their seats on city council. Those councilors are Ward 2 Councilor Obed Matul, Ward 3 Councilor Coco Alinsug, Ward 4 Councilor Natasha Megie-Maddrey and Ward 6 Councilor Fred Hogan.
Alinsug said when the four of them realized they were running unopposed, they met up and hugged it out.
“I was teary eyed at that moment because I was happy for all of us, because that means we can continue our work as counselors, and we don’t have to balance our time with campaigning,” Alinsug said.
Hogan added, “The truth is, even though you’re unopposed, you never stop doing what you’re supposed to be doing. We’re always doing stuff for the City of Lynn. The unopposing comes because you work hard and your people, your constituents (know that), so it is a relief.”
Each of the councilors took a moment to think over their accomplishments from this past term.
Megie-Maddrey began by discussing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and how they were utilized. She said many parks were redone through ARPA funding, and Sagamore Street Playground will soon get a remodel, which Megie-Maddrey is “really happy about.” She added, “It’s a small park, but it’s going to be really good for the community.”
Alinsug said he couldn’t pinpoint just one achievement. He mentioned everything from “a simple fountain at Goldfish Pond to helping with the UV light (project) at King’s Beach, which is also part of the ARPA funding from the state delegation.”
He said all four of the councilors were looking forward to some major projects like the Essex Street Reconstruction project and the project at the old Thurgood Marshall School.
Matul said when he first ran to be the Ward 2 councilor, his constituents said a main concern of theirs was with the department of public works and general city maintenance.
“I think one of my greatest accomplishments was that last year, out of 52 roads that got paved in the city, 20 of them were in my ward – and that was because I was on top of DPW,” Matul said. “So that gave me a 38% repaving in my ward.”
Hogan emphasized Ward 6 has been under heavy construction and “we’re in the completion process of the CSO project with a combined soil overhaul project that’s going through Bennett Street that ends on Commercial Street with the big pump station that was put in there.
“That means, when it storms, the storm water will go straight to the ocean. The sewage will go to the wastewater treatment plant,” Hogan said. “That’s been very painful for the Ward 6 residents, and I feel for them because detours and construction projects like that are very hard on people, and that’s getting ready to come across the finish line.”
All four councilors mentioned how grateful they are to work with such a great team of people and said they are looking forward to continuing the work they do for the City of Lynn.
“We don’t have to agree on everything. Sometimes we have to head butt each other, but at the end of the day, like with what just happened with the flood maps … we voted. We went out. We had a drink. It’s nothing personal. We’re a team,” Matul said.
“What you’re seeing here is passion,” Hogan added. “It’s passion for the City. … They were fighting for their constituents. We were fighting for our constituents. There’s nothing wrong with that – and our people know that. They know that when it comes down, we’re going to go to bat for our constituents.”
Alinsug added they’re hoping to make “some drastic changes from as simple as the process of running the Council to empowering our citizens to speak at the Council for having an open mic night.”
“Beside being a mom and a grandmother, being a city councilor is my favorite job,” Megie-Maddrey said. “I’m just looking forward to more of that. … I want to work on continuing to help small businesses. A lot of our small businesses are struggling right now, (and I) just want to make sure they feel supported.”
Alingsug ended the conversation by saying, “It’s the people of Lynn who gave us this opportunity to serve them. We don’t want to fail them. We want to give our 101%. It is an honor to do this job, and I can look back and say that I personally did something for the City of Lynn (and) the country that embraced me.
“As an immigrant, I can go back, retire to my home country of the Philippines and say, ‘You know, I did something for America. I did something good. They did good to me. I’m returning it back with goodness as well.’
“To all the people of Lynn, thank you for supporting us, and we will continue supporting you.”
