Clancy gives ample notice he wants to remain mayor of Lynn

The next city election is more than a year away in Lynn, but Mayor Edward J. "Chip" Clancy Jr. has already removed any doubt about his intentions.

Clancy recently announced he will seek a third four-year term.

"It's not an easy job," Clancy said last week. "But honestly, I feel we've made progress. We have momentum. And despite all of the fiscal and economic woes, we've changed things in a positive way in the city of Lynn." He said he is running to "try and keep that progress and momentum we've built up going."

A former city councilor, state representative, and state senator, Clancy, 58, didn't face opposition when he first won the mayoral seat in 2001 or in his reelection bid in 2005. To date, no one has stepped forward to take him on next year.

But in pointing to the city's progress under his watch, Clancy offered a glimpse of the message he would sound in a contested race.

Among the positives Clancy cited are capital and academic improvements in the schools, construction of a new Manning Field athletic stadium, renovations to the Fraser Field baseball stadium, the closing of two nursing homes and three branch libraries, construction of a new police station, and renovations to Lynn Memorial Auditorium.

"I think generally we've continued to provide services in a professional manner, in trying to improve people's confidence in the city of Lynn and the services we provide," he said.

His priorities in another term would include rehabilitating the library. He also wants to see "the momentum we had downtown rekindled," noting that the effort to revitalize that area has been slowed by the downturn in the real estate market.

Most of the candidates in contested legislative races in the region share at least one belief: Ballot Question 1, the proposal to eliminate the state income tax, should be voted down.

In interviews last week, seven of the eight candidates expressed opposition to the ballot question, while one supports it.

"I'm dead set against Question 1," said Donald R. Bumiller, a Boxford Democrat who is challenging Representative Brad Hill, an Ipswich Republican. "It will cripple the state. It will have a devastating effect on the basic services we rely on."

Hill is also against the proposal. "I feel the frustration of the opponents who are putting this forward. The Legislature clearly has been overspending," he said. "But to take $12 billion right off the top is a little draconian," referring to the loss in revenue that would result from eliminating the income tax. He said it would "devastate" local aid, and potentially lead to a rise in property taxes.

Like Hill, House minority leader Brad Jones, of North Reading, believes the state is spending too much money, "which is one of the reasons I voted against the budget this year." But he, too, thinks Question 1 is not the right answer, arguing that a $12 billion revenue cut cannot be "accommodated in a manner that doesn't directly impact the necessary services that people need and expect."

Others opposing the question include Representative Lori A. Ehrlich, a Marblehead Democrat; Reading Democrat Claire Paradiso, who is challenging Jones; and Georgetown Republican Lawrence Brennan, who is challenging Representative Barbara A. L'Italien, an Andover Democrat.

Ehrlich said, "We need to find ways to cut waste and redundancy in state government, but we need to do so by using a scalpel and not a hatchet."

Said Paradiso, "I think it's just too drastic a measure and that it would negatively affect local aid, the schools, and human services at a time when the economy is worsening."

Brennan said, "I certainly understand the frustration of people that want to do it, who want to send a message. But I don't see any . . . reason to put any effort in to supporting it because [the Legislature] will just override it anyway." He said he would prefer to see the income tax reduced to its past level of 5 percent.

L'Italien said, "I understand that people have frustration when they see examples of pension abuse and other types of waste and fraud. However, going at the state budget and eliminating $12 billion is certainly not the way to go about making those changes." She said the state already faces a "bleak picture this year not counting what would happen if Question 1 passes."

The sole candidate voicing support for Question 1 was Marblehead Republican John Blaisdell, who is challenging Ehrlich.

"There is no other remedy to the problem of the wasteful spending that is being done up on Beacon Hill," Blaisdell said.

Voters have a chance to hear more from the candidates in three of the contests at upcoming forums.

On Thursday, the Middleton Board of Trade will hold a forum featuring the candidates in the Fourth Essex state representative race - Hill and Bumiller - and the two candidates in the 20th Middlesex race - Jones and Paradiso. The event will start at noon at Pete's Greenside Café at the Middleton Golf Course, 105 South Main St.

Then on Oct. 30, the Boxford Council on Aging is holding a forum featuring Hill, Bumiller, along with Brennan and L'Italien. The event will begin at noon at the Boxford Community Center, 4 Middleton Road.