By Joseph Domelowicz Jr.
Lynn Police Kevin Coppinger easily beat a field of five other contenders last Thursday, September 8, to secure the Democratic nomination to be the next Essex County Sheriff. He will now face Republican nominee Anne-Manning-Martin and two independent candidates Mark Archer and Kevin Leach in the November 8 General Election.
Locally, Coppinger secured more than 50-percent of the vote, oin a night when voter turnout was not very heavy – just over 10-percent of the Lynn’s 50,350 registered voters cast ballots last Tuesday.
Coppinger got 2,681 of a total of 4,786 Democratic votes cast. He was followed by Lynn resident and Essex County Sheriff Supervisor Michael Marks who got 1,396 votes, William Castro, who had 300 votes, Edward J/ O’reilly who had 208 votes and Jerry Robito who received just 108 votes. Democratic candidate Paul Russell Jr. also got 34 votes ion Lynn.
With the primary behind him, Coppinger will now focus his attention on the Republican Challenger, Manning-Martin, who herself beat a field of four Republican challengers and the two independent candidates, Archer and Leach who were not on the Primary ballot.
Manning-Martin did show her strength and political experience by winning Lynn, as she did the rest of the county. She garnered 45 –percent of the Republican vote total in Lynn, 244 votes out of a possible 561. Trailing her were Kenneth Berg who got 80 votes, Jeffrey Gallo with 73 votes, James Jajuga who got 58 votes and Craig Lane who had 21 votes.
Kennedy wins re-election to Governor’s Council
In another big Democratic race, incumbent District 6 Governor’s Councilor Terrence Kennedy easily won re-election to his seat, by beating Democratic challengers Stephen Borelli and Richard DiMeo.
Kennedy got 80 percent of the vote in Lynn and across the county, and will not have a challenger in the November general election, so he is assured of re-election with his victory last week.