By THOMAS GRILLO
LYNN — Time is running out for potential political candidates to get into this fall’s election.
The deadline to pull nomination papers from the City Clerk’s Election Office is Friday at 4 p.m, and the filing deadline is Monday, June 26.
So far, four Democratic candidates have emerged to replace incumbent Republican Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy who is seeking her third, four-year term. They include state Sen. Thomas M. McGee, Edward J. McNeil, Shawnee Love Haynes, and Daphnee N. Puryear.
Eight candidates are seeking councilor-at-large seats including incumbents Buzzy Barton, Hong Net, and Brian LaPierre. Among the challengers are Brian Field, Jaime Figueroa, Richard Ford, John Ladd, and Taso Nikolakopoulos. Councilor-At-Large Daniel Cahill is not seeking reelection, clearing the way for at least one new at-large councilor.
Unless a challenger emerges by Friday, Ward 7 Councilor John “Jay” Walsh is the only councilor on the 11-member panel who will not face opposition.
In what some say 2017 could be a “throw the bums out year” councilors in Wards 1 through 7 face competition.
Ward 1 Councilor Wayne Lozzi is pitted against William F. O’Shea III and Jesse Warren.
In Ward 2, William Trahant decided not to seek re-election. Among the five candidates positioned to take the open seat include Peter Grocki, Christopher Magrane, Gina O’Toole, Richard Starbard, and Alexander Zapata.
Ward 3 Councilor and City Council President Darren Cyr is pitted against Calvin Anderson, George Meimeteas and Lee Sherman.
In Ward 4, Richard Colucci, the longest serving city councilor, is in a fight with Eliud Alcala.
Ward 5 Councilor Dianna Chakoutis is facing a fight for the second time against Marven Hyppolite. The 24-year-old caseworker for U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) was defeated by Chakoutis two years ago by a nearly 2-1 margin.
In Ward 6, City Councilor Peter Capano could face off against Daniel Edwards Staub.
There will be at least two new members of the school committee.
Patricia Capano, the 55-year-old vice chairwoman who was first elected in 1997, and Maria Carrasco, a native of the Dominican Republic who has been on the seven-member panel since 2007, will not seek re-election this year.
The other members who are seeking re-election this year include Donna Coppola, John Ford, Lorraine Gately, and Jared Nicholson. The mayor serves as chair.
A handful of candidates have also taken out papers to run including Jordan Avery, Cherish Rashida Casey, Brian Castellanos, Elizabeth Rosario Gervacio, Gayle Hearns-Rogers, Sandra Lopez, Natasha Megie-Maddrey, Jessica Murphy, Michael Satterwhite, and Stanley Wotring Jr.
Thomas Grillo can be reached at tgrillo@itemlive.com.