Lynn Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy and City Council President Tim Phelan met in the first debate of the campaign last Wednesday at the Congregation Ahabat Shalom on Ocean Street.
The Lynn Community Association, led by president Mary Trahan, sponsored the debate. Tom Sheehan served as the moderator. We commend the LCA for conducting an excellent debate with solid questions.
The forum drew a standing room only crowd to the Lynn synagogue’s hall, an indication that there is considerable interest in the election and what the two candidates have to say about the issues in the campaign.
The forum was everything that the supporters of the two candidates could have hoped for as both candidates did an effective job discussing the issues and offering their viewpoints on the future of our city.
The exchanges between the two candidates were cordial and respectful, offering a great reflection on the two outstanding candidates we have for the city’s highest office.
So who won the first debate? We’ll let the political pundits decide on that question.
The good news is that there is another debate scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 21 on a live broadcast on LynnCAM, the city’s local cable access channel. If you’re a Lynn resident, this debate should be considered can’t-miss television.
It’s encouraging to see the tremendous excitement being generated by Mayor Kennedy and Council President Phelan in their respective campaigns. An energetic exchange of viewpoints and ideas is healthy for our city and we encourage residents to view the candidates’ next debate on LynnCAM.