Lynn Primary Turnout Just 14.8%

On Tuesday, September 14th, Lynn voters cast their ballots in the municipal primary that saw three candidates vying to make the two spots available on the November ballot. Overall, turnout in the city was considerably low with just 14.8% of the Lynn's 55,595 registered voters participating in the primary. This year's turnout was comparable to turnout in 2009 and lower than 2013 where there were just two mayoral candidates both of whom moved forward to the November general election. 

Turnout varied across the city with the highest turnout in Ward 1 and the lowest in Ward 6.

Specifically in Ward 1, precincts 1 and 2 had decent turnout at 30% and 24.7% respectively. 

On the flip side, 7 ward precincts had voter turnout that was less 10%. Three of those precincts were in Ward 6 alone.  

Among the three mayoral candidates, current Lynn School Committee member Jared Nicholson was the top vote getter followed by current Ward 3 City Councilor and City Council President Darren Cyr. The two will face off in the November general election which will be held on Tuesday, November 2nd. 

Source: Lynn City Hall, Chief of Elections

Lynn Mayoral Candidate Q & A: Jared Nicholson

This fall, Lynners will head to the polls in order to elect city officials in the municipal election. A major election on this year's ballot is the mayoral race. Currently, three candidates are running for the position making the September primary more important than in a typical year given that only two candidates will move forward to the November general election.

School Committee member Jared Nicholson is one of three candidates running for Mayor this year. Nicholson received a bachelor's degree from Princeton University and a law degree from Harvard University. Previously employed at Northeast Legal Aid and as an associate at Latham & Watkins, he now serves as a professor and the Director of the Community Business Clinic at Northeastern University. 

Nicholson responded to a few questions regarding his candidacy for Mayor and his vision for the city. 

Thanks for chatting with me, Jared! You’ve served on the Lynn School Committee since 2016; why did you make the decision to run for Mayor this year?

Thank you for this opportunity! As I reflected on the challenges of the last year, with the pandemic and all that’s happened – the work we’ve done on the School Committee dealing with the serious ramifications of the pandemic for education, the work my wife has done as a frontline healthcare worker at the hospital, the work I’ve done as a professor at Northeastern running a legal clinic helping small businesses stay afloat during COVID, I felt like I was ready to step up as Mayor and provide the kind of leadership we need in this important moment for the city.

We need to recover fully and fairly from the pandemic. We also need to take advantage of the opportunity that Lynn has for growth by putting our best foot forward. And we need to do it in a way that’s inclusive, that benefits the whole city.

I felt like I had the vision, experience, and energy that the next Mayor is going to need to be able to do that.

Obviously, the pandemic has been a major issue globally but specifically in the City of Lynn where over 17,000 residents have been diagnosed with the virus. If elected Mayor, what would be your first steps in terms of helping Lynn through the recovery process?

First, we need to continue to monitor and address the current public health situation. That means keeping track of what’s happening with any variants and continuing to advance the vaccination effort.

Second, we should reflect on lessons learned from the pandemic to improve our public health approaches for the future.

Third, we need to create opportunities to make up for lost learning and social-emotional development from students being out of school.

Finally, we need to continue to work with our small businesses to make sure that they can recover and return successfully.

 

Another big issue is housing. What would be your approach to balancing the need for new development with also ensuring that current low income residents are not negatively impacted by increasing rents or displacement?

One of the core themes of my campaign is that Lynn has an opportunity for growth, but in order for that growth to be meaningful, it needs to be inclusive. That means including low-income and working class Lynn residents and families. Housing is a huge part of that inclusion.

I have served on the Steering Committee of the Housing Lynn plan that’s currently pending before the Lynn City Council and Planning Board and I strongly support its adoption. We need to support smart growth that’s inclusive and sustainable, protect renters from bad conditions in the existing housing stock, and make space for Lynners in new housing stock.

 

Lynn is a diverse city but for some it may feel as though there is not a diversity in voices in the city’s decision-making processes. What are your thoughts on how Lynn can better address the ‘I’ in DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) in its governance but also more generally?

Lynn can better address “Inclusion” in its governance, but also more generally, first by addressing access, transparency, and representation. Communication, access, and transparency can’t just mean making information available. It has to mean getting the information into the hands of the people who need it.

First, in a multilingual community, language access needs to sit side-by-side with everything we do. That requires more investment in translation and interpretation.

Second, in a digital world, technology access and fluency have to be universal. We need systems that enable and encourage that, including an overhaul of the City’s presence online. The City’s website is our digital presence in the community just like City Hall is our physical presence. It needs to be more dynamic and accessible to reach its potential as a community resource.

Finally, the City now has a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, which I strongly support. I would work with that person, the City’s Personnel Director, and other stakeholders, to come up with a plan to help make sure City Hall reflects the diversity of the City. One important next step from the Housing Lynn plan is for the city to make a public commitment to show that diverse hiring is a priority, including using metrics and timelines.

 

Growing up in the Highlands during the 90’s was wonderful for me because of the community/neighborhood feel that included block parties and haunted houses and a centralized hub in the Ford School. Strengthening connections between and among city residents is one way to increase Lynners’ pride and investment in the city. How do you envision the Mayoral role in terms of helping to facilitate the community’s connection to the city and each other? 

The work towards addressing inclusion described above is a big part of that. Your mention of the centralized hub in the Ford School certainly shows how important a role the Lynn Public Schools can play in this work, for example, supporting community schools and students’ social-emotional development and needs outside the classroom, including more afterschool opportunities.

Another local resource that I think is sometimes overlooked in citywide conversations is the multiservice business. They provide needed services in areas such as immigration, tax, travel, translation, finance, and more. These businesses are an integral part of our community. They help organize flag days for their countries of origin at City Hall, sponsor community organizations, and anchor city storefronts.

Bringing multiservice businesses into the city’s conversations about community goals would significantly increase the City’s connection to different populations. It would also help answer questions people may have about when and how to use various resources for particular issues, like legal help or translation services.

 

Finally, what skills and experiences make you most suited for the role of Mayor? Why should Lynn residents consider your candidacy for the position this fall?

I'm running for Mayor because I believe I have the skills and experience to provide leadership for inclusive growth. To both create opportunities for growth and to make those opportunities inclusive.

I have deep experience on school issues from my work on the School Committee. I also have deep experience on city issues like housing and economic development through my work as a lawyer and a law professor.

I bring a fresh perspective based on that work as a professor and lawyer. I’ve worked with other cities on economic development. I’ve worked with businesses of all sizes from all over the world.

In addition to that fresh perspective, I also already have a record of delivering results right here in Lynn. For example, I've been proud to start a wrestling team in Lynn. I identified a valuable experience that was missing from the city and put together a team to make it happen and make a difference.

I also have a record of being there for people when they need it as someone who’s open, accessible, and dependable. I've done that time and time again in my role on the School Committee with parents, with teachers, with students. Particularly in working with families, my ability to speak Spanish has been helpful to be able to work directly with Spanish-speaking constituents.

In addition to the ability to deliver for people in the now, I’m also able to help us build towards a long-term vision of a better future. That vision is centered on inclusive growth.

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For more information on Nicholson: jarednicholson.org or on Twitter @JaredCNicholson

2019 Lynn School Committee Q & A: Jared Nicholson

Incumbent Lynn School Committee member Jared Nicholson is running for a third term in this year's municipal election. Below are Nicholson's responses to some pressing education-related questions. 

You’re currently running for your third term on the Lynn School Committee. What is motivating you to run again this year?

I am motivated to run for reelection because I am passionate about public education and its importance to my family and to our community.

First, I’m excited to share that my wife and I are expecting our first child any day now. Especially as public school graduates ourselves, we want to send our kids to great public schools.

Second, as a law professor at Northeastern University I work with and study small businesses, in support of community growth. I know how important having great schools is to our community’s hopes for growth. For Lynn to reach our sky-high potential, we have to help our kids reach theirs. We do that in the public schools.

Finally, this year particularly, the District faces challenges from shifting external circumstances, particularly on funding. I believe I can continue to help the District navigate those challenges as a member of the Committee and as an attorney with a business background.

The Lynn Public School District has faced a number of challenges in recent years, most notably funding issues. What is your assessment of where the district is at this point? What is one major challenge that LPS will need to confront in the next year?

Overall, the district is doing well. That’s a testament to the hard work and dedication our wonderful teachers and other education professionals and the great students and families we have in our schools. But there is a lot of work to do.

Last year, for the first time in several years, the Lynn Public Schools was fully funded by the city in the eyes of the state. It’s so important that the city meets its commitment under state law to do that. This is something that my colleagues and I on the School Committee have advocated for and something we will continue to expect.

One major challenge that LPS needs to confront is overcrowding and the physical state of our schools. This continues to be our most pressing issue. We have amazing teachers, but rising class sizes make it harder for teachers to teach and students to learn. On the School Committee, we rely on the state, the city and outside organizations for funding. While we can’t allocate funds, we can advocate and innovate.

We are advocating that the state overhaul its school funding formula and for help from the Massachusetts School Building Authority. We are innovating by adding a new 8th grade option at Lynn Tech and looking to outside partners to find more pre-K classrooms. We need to build on this advocacy and innovation to meet our pressing space needs.

Last year, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) introduced a new accountability and assistance system that no longer classified schools in Levels 1 - 5. What is your opinion of the additional metrics which are now being considered along with MCAS scores (high school completion rates, chronic absenteeism, advanced coursework completion, etc.)?

I am definitely glad that DESE has expanded its thinking and its methodology for how to measure good schools. I still have concerns about the focus on test scores though, and the damage that focus has done over time even after the changes. When people like magazine editors use MCAS scores to “rank” schools, they fail to capture the amazing learning that happens in the Lynn Public Schools.

One encouraging sign from the additional metrics is that LPS has made progress on some of these new indicators. We have had a successful new attendance initiative, called Every Student Every Day. We are also offering more advanced courses.

How much do you as a School Committee member interact with parents, students and community members? Do you think that the School Committee in general could do more to engage and involve residents in the LPS decision making process?

I interact with parents, students and community members a lot, both when people reach out to me directly and when I’m out spending time in the community. It has been a privilege to listen many parents, students and community members about problems they had and work to help find solutions and connect them with resources. I feel like I have been able to be a resource particularly for our community members who speak Spanish because of my Spanish language skills.

One of the solutions I’ve worked on was helping organize a college fair for Spanish-speaking parents with the MARIAs Center. The MARIAs volunteers invited colleges to bring and share materials in Spanish about the college application process and financial aid.

I have also loved getting student input and feedback, both informally when I meet them and formally from our student representative on the Committee. A few years ago, I pushed for us to add a student representative to our meetings and have been thrilled to experience these wonderful students doing a great job with us.

Yes, I think we could do more to engage and involve residents. We can work on giving parents, students and community members the tools and confidence they need to help them get involved and above all to make them feel welcome and included in our city’s public education.

One example of progress on this issue can be found in our approach to grant funding. We get a lot of interest in the district's pursuit of grants. Outside grants are an important way to bring much needed resources into the district. To support our effort and offer more opportunities to collaborate on grants, I suggested that we try a new tool. LPS will now be creating a page on its website that will track all the grants that we apply for and receive.

Why should Lynn residents cast their vote for you on Tuesday, November 5th?

First, I believe that people should vote for me because I have established a record of leadership and achieving results. For example, I am working with my colleagues on an overhaul of the entire suite of policies of the Lynn Public Schools after discovering that we were still governed by a set of policies that were outdated, some by several decades.

Second, I continue to bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to the committee. For example, one of the issues I have been most focused on is building more pathways for students to college and jobs. A couple of years ago we started the Technical Afterschool Program, a program for students around the district to learn job skills at Lynn Tech. I had read a report by Commonwealth Magazine on the gap between seats at vocational-technical schools and the number of interested students. I asked the team at Lynn Tech if we could offer any programs to students at the other high schools who might be interested in vocational training. Lynn Tech Guidance Counselor Brian O’Connell designed and launched a program that exceeded my expectations

Finally, as a Spanish-speaker who is accessible and responsive, I believe that I have a lot to offer all members of our community in listening to their concerns and helping to find solutions.  

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For more information: 

• 2019 Candidate Profiles: Lynn School Committee - Jared Nicholson
• Website (jarednicholson.org)
• 2017 Lynn School Committee Q & A
• 2015 Lynn School Committee Q & A
• @JaredCNicholson (Twitter)

Lynn School Committee 2017 Q & A: Jared Nicholson

Incumbent Lynn School Committee member Jared Nicholson is running for re-election in this year's municipal election. Here he answers questions regarding his thoughts on the issues facing LPS.

One of the major issues facing the Lynn Public School System are current budgetary issues. What are your thoughts on the Foundation Budget review Commission's recommendations? Do you believe that the current funding formula needs to be revised?

I believe that the funding formula needs to be revised and I support many of the Foundation Budget review Commission’s recommendations. I especially support the recommendations to change the formula rates for English language learners, low-income students and special education students. We need more help from the Commonwealth to support the educational needs of those students.

I am not optimistic that the Commission’s findings will be adopted by the Massachusetts legislature in the immediate future. But I am more than willing to help our state delegation understand the challenges that the current formula creates for Lynn and advocate for change.

In my first term, I worked with my colleagues on the School Committee and the Lynn Teachers Union to write and send a letter to our state delegation on a change the state made to the definition of low-income students in the school funding formula that had hurt Lynn. I think it is important for the School Committee to speak up on issues that affect our public schools, even when those issues are beyond the scope of the School Committee’s formal authority.

Outside of changes to the funding formula, how else do you believe that the funding issues surrounding LPS could be addressed?

Beyond state funding, the city needs to improve its fiscal situation. In the long run, the best way to do that is to grow our commercial tax base. Responsible, inclusive growth will allow the city to make the investments it needs to make not only in education, but also in public safety and other crucial city services.

Another important source of funding is grants. We need to continue to push to find available grant funding. For example, when we started a middle wrestling team at Marshall Middle School, we were supported by private funding.

Finally, it is important that we make sure that the city meets its commitment under state law to adequately fund our schools. That is something that my colleagues and I on the School Committee have advocated for and something we expect to achieve this year. But it requires our focus and follow up.

In what ways, do you believe that LPS is doing well? In what ways is the district in need of improvement?

LPS has so many terrific educations, and there is a lot to be proud of in what those educators help our students accomplish. We are a large district with diverse needs, and consistently perform well in relation to our urban peers. In the long run, we need to keep pushing ourselves to improve to the point that we can say that we perform well in relation to all peers. That is a lofty goal and not something that LPS will accomplish by itself. But LPS has to lead the way.

Specific ways that the LPS is doing well include our expansion of programs to build pathways to college and jobs for students. We launched a program at Lynn Tech for students across the district to learn job skills after school and have expanded an Early College program at North Shore Community College that offers LPS students the opportunity to take free college courses for college credit. Lynn Tech has added vocational programs in IT and healthcare, two areas for which we know employers need people. Other examples of specific ways that LPS is doing well or is making progress is beginning to roll out a new social-emotional learning curriculum and targeted interventions to address the opioid crisis.

Specific areas that we need to improve include solving the problems we have with the physical state of our schools and the resulting overcrowding. Overcrowding is a strain on our teachers, who are asked to achieve more learning even as class sizes rise. It is also a logistical challenge, given the difficulty finding physical space in the city and resources in the city’s budget to build new schools. But the physical state of the schools in a community reflects the priority that it puts on education, and I know that our community cares more about education than the physical state of our schools would suggest. Other examples of specific areas to improve are reversing the decrease in the dropout rate and offering more after-school programs.

Why should Lynn voters elect you to a second term on the Lynn School Committee?

I believe that voters should elect me to a second term on the Lynn School Committee because I continue to bring a fresh perspective and have built a record of leadership in my first term.

For example, in my first term, we started a wrestling team in Lynn. We launched a program at Lynn Tech for students across the district to learn job skills. We have begun to roll out a new social emotional learning curriculum. We have been strong advocates for the full funding of our schools. We came to an agreement with the Lynn Teachers Union that is fair to all sides and moves the District forward.

The District also faces serious ongoing challenges that require leadership today, chief among them rising enrollment and financial instability. I feel like I have a lot to contribute to work on those issues as an attorney with a business background.

Finally, as a Spanish-speaker who is accessible and responsive, I believe that I have a lot to offer all members of our community in listening to their concerns and helping to find solutions.

For more information see: 

• Website: jarednicholson.org
• Facebook: Jared Nicholson
• Lynn School Committee 2015 Q & A: Jared Nicholson
• 2015 Candidate Profile: Jared Nicholson (Lynn Community Television)
• 2017 Candidate Profile: Jared Nicholson (Lynn Community Television)

Lynn School Committee 2015 Q & A: Jared Nicholson

Jared Nicholson is among the candidates for  running for School Committee in this year's municipal election. Nicholson currently works at Northeast Legal Aid in Lynn, where he provides free legal help to small businesses that cannot afford it to help them get started and grow in Lynn. A graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School, he was formerly the Executive Director of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau. Nicholson's connection to the Lynn Public Schools dates back to the turn of the last century, when his great-grandfather graduated from Lynn Classical.

Here Jared answered a few questions regarding his candidacy for Lynn School Committee. 

Why are you running for School Committee?

I am running for School Committee because I am so excited by the potential this city has, and I know that to reach that potential, we need to help our kids meet theirs. On a personal note, I plan to raise my family here, and like many Lynners, I want to send my future kids to great public schools. 

I am an attorney at Northeast Legal Aid, where I provide free legal help small businesses who can’t afford it to help them get started and grow in Lynn, with the goal of contributing to community economic development. That goal, contributing to community economic development, is a big reason why I’m running. Having great schools is so important to our city’s hopes for growth. Great schools broaden opportunities for our children, attract new businesses that know the value of good public education, and encourage young families to move-in and stay in Lynn.

We want longtime multi-generational residents, newer immigrant families, and young professionals looking for a historic community near Boston all to see a bright future here. That vision requires investing in great public schools and bringing innovative ideas to the table about how we stretch limited resources to meet the challenges of a diverse school district. As Lynn sets the standard for gateway city resurgence, public education needs to be recognized as the foundation upon which the city’s future is built. I’m running to encourage that recognition.

 

Describe the knowledge and abilities that you believe a successful graduate of the Lynn Public School student should possess.

Successful graduates of the Lynn Public Schools should have the skills, knowledge and character they need to succeed in life and in their college or career plans. They should also graduate with at least a rough draft of those plans, along with a life-long love of learning that will help them adapt to the changing demands of the 21^st century economy and lead fulfilling, responsible lives.

The skills and knowledge should include traditional subjects as well as the social-emotional skills they need as well-rounded citizens. Our students should also graduate having begun to form their relationship with their community. That relationship should include both how to access the resources available to them and how to give back and engage in the community’s civic life.

Finally, the schools should prepare our graduates to lead safe and healthy lives. One of the things that I’ve been struck by as I’ve been running is how much we ask of our schools. The schools don’t just educate our children, they’re also the front line of prevention on a host of important issues – including drugs, crime, obesity and reproductive health to name a few.

The Lynn Public School System is currently underfunded by approximately $15 million. Given the city’s financial constraints, do you think the focus should be on seeking waivers for this deficit and changes to the net school spending language or on finding ways to increase revenue and allocate more money toward public education? 

I believe we should focus on finding ways to increase revenue and allocate more money toward public education. We should fund our schools at the level that’s at least 100% of the state funding formula. My understanding is that the city plans to do that going forward.

As far as the prior accounting errors that have created the deficit, we need to continue to negotiate with the state to make sure we avoid any penalties. As an attorney with a business background, I feel like I’d be able to contribute to those negotiations if they remain open.

When it comes to the budget, I wouldn’t stop there. I also think that it makes sense to look at changes to the net school spending language. The state’s school funding system is old, and in the process of being updated.  As a School Committee member, I would want to help support our state delegation and leaders from similar cities around the state as that process unfolds to make sure that we are able to meet the needs of our students and our schools. 

In your opinion, are the issues facing public education in Lynn overall similar or different from the educational issues being discussed nationally? How so?

There are definitely some issues facing public education in Lynn that are similar to the educational issues being discussed nationally. One of them is the concern about the growth in in high stakes testing and the effect that’s having on the learning culture. Another is the interest in and need for developing community schools.

One of the most urgent issues facing public education here in Lynn is rising student enrollment and the resulting overcrowding, which goes hand in hand with the physical state of our schools. Other communities may face similar challenges, but it’s such a local issue that it doesn’t always get the same national attention as other educational issues being discussed.

Overcrowding is a strain on our teachers, who are asked to achieve more learning even as class sizes rise. It is also a logistical challenge, given the difficulty finding physical space and resources in the city’s budget to build new schools. The physical state of the schools in a community is a reflection of the priority that it puts on education, and I know that our community cares more about education than the physical state of our schools would suggest.

We’ve obviously had some major issues going through the school construction process in the past that has put us behind.  It’s exciting to have the new Marshall opening next year. As we begin the process for the construction of a new Pickering Middle School, we should make the most of the opportunity and make sure that the planning accounts for the rising enrollment numbers that we know will continue.

Why should Lynn residents cast their vote for you on November 3rd?

I believe that I have a lot to contribute to the School Committee’s work as a legal aid attorney who speaks Spanish and has a passion for public education having attended public schools myself, studied education policy in college at Princeton and worked for the Massachusetts Secretary of Education. I’m ready to focus on best practices and new ideas on issues like expanding pathways for students to college and jobs, developing students’ social-emotional skills in addition to improving test scores, and offering more after-school activities (like wrestling).

We already know that the challenges the next School Committee will face will include financial concerns, rising student enrollment and infrastructure needs. I believe that my legal and quantitative skills will be particularly valuable in work on those issues. 

Finally, I am also ready to hear from and work with anyone who has ideas or concerns for our schools. I invite readers to please reach out to me with any thoughts, questions or concerns so I can hear your ideas and get your thoughts on the new ideas I plan to bring. That’s the approach I plan to take as a candidate and as a member of the Committee. Please look me up on my Facebook page or on my website, www.jarednicholson.org.