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June 29, 2006
News Bulletin: Council eyes Bernie Lynch
Fresh off his convincing interview Wednesday night, Chelmsford Town Manager Bernie Lynch appears to have won over a majority of councilors as the best candidate to succeed John F. Cox as Lowell city manager. Lynch's presentation overwhelmed councilors as earnest and highly professional. His 20 years' experience in Chelmsford, where he has lead contract reform in union employees' health insurance, produced effective budgets and built up stabilization funds for capital projects, also impressed councilors.
The Sun has learned from one councilor, who asked to remain anonymous until Friday morning's selection vote at City Hall, that Lynch has five solid votes with two other councilors leaning his way as of 6 p.m. Thursday. Lynch needs five of the nine votes to become city manager.
Evidently, Lynch picked up support from several councilors who initially favored Diana Prideaux-Brune, the UMAss Lowell facilities manager.. The support eroded, however, after Prideaux-Brune's somewhat disappointing interview Monday night, in which she told councilors she couldn't afford to live in Lowell. it was later reported on thesunblog that Prideaux-Brune had purchased a $544,000 home in Dracut, after selling her Lowell home at a $250,000 profit.
Clearly, though, Lynch proved top notch in his interview.
While anything can happen overnight, it appears that Lynch is in the driver's seat as far as a majority of the council is concerned.
Posted by JimC at June 29, 2006 6:18 PM
