Long time democrat mayor in Lynn, MA loses to republican write in candidate

Kennedy shocks Clancy in Lynn race

By David Liscio / The Daily Item

LYNN - Judith Flanagan Kennedy emerged the top vote-getter in Tuesday's preliminary election, narrowly defeating Mayor Edward J. "Chip" Clancy Jr. by 207 votes.

The third mayoral candidate, David Rohnstock, attracted less than 700 votes across the city.

Kennedy was jubilant as the numbers were posted at the Franco-American Post, seemingly putting her ahead of Clancy by 316 votes, although by the final count her lead had been lessened.

When the dust had settled Kennedy had collected 3,231 votes to Clancy's 3,024.

A power outage left about half the city in the dark after 6 p.m., mostly in West Lynn, and included the Hibernian Hall on Federal Street where Clancy's supporters had gathered.

"We find it a little bit symbolic that the power has gone out in West Lynn," said Kennedy. The write-in candidate, councilor-at-large, attorney and mother of two, was particularly pleased by the win because Tuesday was her husband's 42nd birthday. "Kevin wanted a win as his birthday present and I tried to deliver for him," she said.

Kennedy is no stranger to waging, and winning as a write-in candidate.

In 1991 she successfully earned a spot on the final ballot after waging a write-in effort for School Committee, then went on to top the ticket in the final.

So what's next?
"Game on," said Kennedy. "We made a ticket-topping run out of chaos in a 35-day period. Seven weeks from now we'll try to do it again."

Meanwhile, Kennedy, 47, of 23 Buchanan Circle, ordered her campaign staff and supporters to stay away from their Wyoma Square headquarters until next week. "I'm padlocking the door so people can spend time with their families, do their laundry and catch up on life," she said. "And I mean it."

The mood at the Hibernian Hall was somber, the only illumination in the basement emitted by an emergency wall spotlight. "I'd say it was about even," said Clancy, flanked by his wife, Beth, mayoral office staff and friends. "It's certainly close."

The mayor complimented Kennedy for running a successful campaign. "She and her family and the people who work for her ought to be congratulated," he said. "They got out the vote and now it's a horse race."

Asked about where the Rohnstock votes might end up in the November election, Clancy said, "That's a very small piece of the whole puzzle. In the final election, the turnout will be larger. But tonight is a fair snapshot."

Clancy, 59, of 20 Harmon St., said he plans to work harder at his re-election campaign in the coming weeks. "I have to get my message across more effectively," he said. "It's not an easy time to run for re-election. If somebody loses their job, it's human nature to say, I don't have a good mayor. But these are difficult times."

Clancy said his supporters have remained unchanged for 30 years, referring to his three decades in politics. "We not going to deviate from what we've been doing. We're comfortable in our own skin," he said. "As for tonight, when I leave here I'm going home. I'm looking forward to running on Thursday."

An avid runner, Clancy plans to participate in the Clock to the Rock road race from Central Square to Red Rock Park and beating his best time of 21 minutes, 30 seconds.

According to election results, 7,286 registered voters cast ballots (14.88 percent)from the city's 48,955 eligible to vote.

http://www.thedailyitemoflynn.com/articles/2009/09/16/news/news01.txt

She used to be a democrat. Clancy had it coming, but it will be interesting to see how a dem city responds to a republican mayor.

:wow:

Keep me posted.

sounds flighty. But Lynn people are hard core and unforgiving.

not let it go unchallenged.

Yet another example of the passiveness of the Dems in the face of outright aggression by the pukes.

I needed that today.

I lost my city council seat because a multi-millionaire Republican energized the GOP base with an expensive GOTV operation that pulled in a right wing cable television host. Lousy day all around here in Manchester.

The wealthy are getting even.

It's very difficult to tell the difference between candidates of opposing parties.

Now, we just need to take that premise, interview people, and only broadcast the answers from those who agree with our conclusion.

Boy, if only we had our own version of Fox "News."

;)

but this is disquieting. Those 700 other votes are way in play now.

But then again, if there's a choice between sitting in Cronin's Bar or voting....that's Lynn for ya.

Clancy must be in a total panic. Districts 1, 2, & 3 are the wealthy of Lynn.

This was a pre-midterm, so turnout was going to be really low.

There also has to be a little blame laid at the candidates' feet. Who else is going to inspire and then organize voter turnout besides the ones seeking those votes?

The city is run by bar owners and bookies. I know. I grew up with and drank with them back when. I've known Clancy since we were kids. His biggest dream was to be mayor. Now he's gonna have to work for it. Gone are the days when pols paid drunks to vote and resurrected the dead for more votes....maybe.


PLUS...the fired department and police department runs the city. JFK has no idea what she's facing. I come from a long line of Lynn firefighters. They're a tough bunch.