John Ford
John Ford, a member of the Lynn School Committee for the past 12 years, has announced that he will see the Ward 7 City Council seat in the 2015 election.
Ford, who has been elected to the School Committee six times, is hoping to continue a family tradition of public service in the ward that encompasses most of West Lynn.
“It’s going to be very difficult leaving the School Committee because I enjoy it very much,” said Ford. “But my dad [the late John Ford Sr.] was Ward 7 councilor for 16 years and my cousin, Rick, has been Ward 7 councilor for the past 16 years and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
Ford has been active member of the School Committee. He is very proud of the fact that a new Marshall Middle School is under construction. As a city councilor, he said he would continue to lobby for the construction of a new Pickering Middle School.
Friends had urged Ford to consider a run for the West Lynn/Nahant state representative seat, but with Councilor-at-Large Brendan Crighton being a relative, he opted to stay out of the race. Crighton went on to win the Democratic nomination for the seat.
“I know it’s a little early to be announcing my candidacy but I wanted to establish the fact that I am going to be seeking the Ward 7 position on the Council,” said Ford. “I’m putting together plans for my campaign and a kickoff event will be held in the near future.”
Ford is in his fifth year as an administrative aide at the State House where he worked in the office of former state representative Steve Walsh.
Ford is a lifelong resident of West Lynn. He attended Burrill Elementary School, Sacred Heart School, and St. Mary’s High School. He holds a Master’s degree in Education from Cambridge College.
John and his wife, Sheila, are the proud parents of four daughters, Kathy and Jennifer (who are Lynn schoolteachers), Valerie, and Tina. The Fords also have five grandchildren. His sister, Joanne Eagan, is the principal of the Sacred Heart School.