2025 Candidate Forums: Ward 5 City Councilor – Sponsored by LMF & NLC | August 20, 2025

The Lynn Music Foundation & New Lynn Coalition held this forum with candidates running to be Ward 5 City Councilor in the 2025 Election. This forum was held on August 20, 2025 at the Vault Theater Museum in Downtown Lynn and featured candidates Augustina Matos, Cardeliz Paez, Josh Polonsky, & Liliana Patino. During the forum candidates answered questions on a variety of issues such as housing, immigrants rights, and more. There were also special performances by Sean McCarthy and Poet Laureate of the City of Lynn Michelle LaPoetica Richardson.

SCHEDULE:

0:00 – Introduction from Moderator and organizers
6:30 – Speech from Michelle LaPoetica Richardson, Poet Laureate of the City of Lynn
13:55 – What does the City Council do, and why vote?
19:50 – Candidate introductions
33:16 – Questions for the candidates
1:27:30 – Perofrmance from Sean McCarthy
1:29:44 – Closing remarks from Michelle LaPoetica Richardson, Poet Laureate of the City of Lynn

The Preliminary Election will be held on September 2nd. You can find out more about this and others races in this year’s election by visiting our website for bios from the candidates, video of all forums we have covered, and more. For all of our FREE election coverage please visit LynnTV.org/election.