LYNN — The City Council has appointed Lynn resident Maura Cronin as assistant city solicitor during Tuesday evening’s meeting.
The Personnel Subcommittee held two interviews for assistant Lynn solicitor after a very detailed hiring process, following the previous assistant solicitor, James Lamanna, who transitioned to city clerk in February.
Subcommittee Chair Brian LaPierre put forward a motion to recommend Maura Cronin to the full City Council, advancing her candidacy after weeks of recruitment and evaluation.
City Personnel Director Drew Russo outlined the process, stating, “Thanks again for allowing the personnel department to participate in this process, to hire an assistant city solicitor. This is a council appointment, and I know that this is a responsibility that all of you take seriously.”
Russo explained that the vacancy was created following Lamanna’s promotion on Feb. 24 and that the position was posted the following day.
“The position was immediately posted on Wednesday, Feb. 25th, with a priority deadline of Tuesday, March 10th,” he said, noting the role was advertised through the city’s website, social media platforms, and professional organizations.
“We tried to follow as best we could the normal hiring process, and I think that that worked out very, very well. You can see the results of that tonight,” Russo added.
According to Russo, five candidates initially applied and were offered interviews.
“The remaining four candidates were interviewed… Of the four candidates interviewed, two are currently residents, the third is from the South Shore, and the fourth candidate withdrew after their interview,” he said.
He added that two additional applications were received after interviews concluded but were not considered as part of the final selection.
“Neither of those candidates are current residents with legal experience that exceeds that of the two candidates that will come before you this evening,” he said.
During her interview, Cronin introduced herself and emphasized her ties to the community. “My husband and I bought our home here back in 2009, our first home, our last home. We are raising our three children here in the community,” she said.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to extend my interest in the public sector to the community that I have come to love and call my own,” Cronin added.
Cronin addressed questions about availability, a key concern for councilors who rely on legal guidance during meetings and emergencies. “If my phone rings and I am in a position to answer it, I will answer it. If I cannot answer it at that moment because there’s an urgent need that I’m dealing with on the other end, I will acknowledge the call and get back to you as soon as I can,” she said.
Cronin also confirmed that the role would be her sole professional focus. “That would be my only employment, other than mom,” she stated.
She explained her current position in state government, saying she has worked in the Office of Political Finance for nearly 15 years, beginning as legal counsel and now serving as deputy general counsel. Her responsibilities include conducting investigations, responding to calls with regulatory guidance, drafting advisory opinions, holding hearings, and recommending changes to statutes.
“At the current time, I am more familiar with state law and Massachusetts legislation. My intention would be, if I were to receive the appointment, to spend the time prior to starting, becoming more familiar and comfortable with the city’s ordinances, bylaws, et cetera,” she said.
She also highlighted her experience drafting legal opinions, citing an advisory opinion she authored regarding campaign fund usage for personal protective equipment. “That was an opinion that I wrote… and I think that was incredibly impactful because it gave that candidate and that candidate’s staff the flexibility to use their campaign funds in a way that was maybe not directly authorized by statute,” she stated.
Following the interviews, the subcommittee advanced Cronin’s nomination to the full council, where she received unanimous approval.
