Councilor-at-Large Buzzy Barton held a campaign fundraiser at Old Tyme Italian Restaurant announcing his candidacy for re-election. Shown at the event are Ward 1 Councilor Wayne Lozzi, Councilor-at-Large Hong Net, Councilor-at-Large Buzzy Barton, and Council President Timothy Phelan.
Councilor-at-Large Buzzy Barton announced his candidacy for re-election during a reception last Thursday at Old Tyme Italian Cuisine.
Following his remarks to supporters, Barton made a donation to victims of a four-alarm fire at 145 Lewis Street that left dozens homeless last week.
Barton presented the donation to former Lynn English girls basketball star Jenicia Duggins, 21. Duggins and her mother Jennifer lived in one of the units at the apartment house.
“We passed a hat around at the event and collected more than $800 which I presented to Jenicia,” said Barton. “I told my supporters that’s why I got into city government – to help people and this was a perfect time to help somebody. It was nice for the people to meet Jenicia and be able to assist her.”
Barton, 60, was first elected to the council two years ago, finishing a strong third place behind Tim Phelan and Dan Cahill. Hong Net was fourth.
Barton’s sisters, Pat, Roberta, Paulette, and Donna were among the large crowd that attended the event. Pat was the principal of the Pickering School. Another sister, Carol was vice principal of the Thurgood Marshall School.
A Lynn firefighter for 30 years and past president of the Lynn firefighters union, Barton is the chairman of the city council’s public safety committee. “One of things that I really wanted to get going was community policing and through the mayor’s office and the support of the other councilors, we were able to bring back community policing,” said Barton.
Barton served as head coach of the Lynn English girls and boys basketball teams. In the 2008-9 season, he guided the boys team to the state finals where they fell to St. John’s of Shrewsbury. He graduated from English in 1972.