Peabody Candidate Profile: Pete McGinn For City Council

PEABODY, MA — Peabody will have several contested races in this fall's election, including a seven-way race for five at-large seats on City Council and contested races for city council seats in four of the city's six wards. Peabody Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Incumbent Pete McGinn, 56, is being challenged by Jaclyn Corriveau as he runs for reelection to the Ward 2 seat on Peabody City Council. McGinn was first elected to Peabody City Council in 2013. He and his wife Jeannette have four children.

Are you running for office in Peabody? Contact Dave Copeland at dave.copeland@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Peabody Patch.

Previously on Patch: Peabody Election 2019: Here's Who's Running

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

I’ve learned from being on the City Council, as Ward 2’s representative, that no one issue is the most pressing. There are many equally important challenges facing our Ward. These include: (a) working to ensure that Peabody remains an affordable place for residents to live and work; (b) maintaining local taxes at a reasonable and affordable level; (c) ensuring that municipal services are high quality and equitably delivered; (d) ensuring that proposed development is balanced with proper controls on surrounding neighborhoods and (e) continued focus on revitalizing the Downtown’s business district.

I pledge to continue to represent the residents of the Ward in a diligent and thoughtful manner on all issues facing our Ward.

I plan to continue doing what I have been doing since being elected as Ward 2 Councillor. This includes being an active participant in all issues before the City Council, especially those impacting our Ward. I will never become complacent about the job of Ward Councillor, I will continue to always actively press for Ward 2’s share of city services, and most importantly I will continue to be responsive to all neighborhood and resident concerns.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I’ll let the voters of the Ward decide our differences. I will say (without comparing myself to my opponent), that I believe my experience in local government as well as professionally and my extensive record of community involvement give me the ability to be a highly effective advocate for the Ward and its residents. I have lived in the Ward my entire life and along with my wife, we have raised our family in Ward 2. I remain committed to ensuring that Ward 2 receives the best representation possible.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

I’m not running for re-election on a set list of issues, rather I’m running on the approach to the job of ward councilor that I have demonstrated since first being elected. In your first question I identified some of the important issues facing our Ward and the City of Peabody. As a ward councilor, I always strive to weight the neighborhood impacts of proposals before the Council and listen to the concerns of Ward residents.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My record on the City Council is that of a fully engaged Ward Councilor who tries to decide and resolve issues in a fair and equitable manner. I am an active member of multiple committees and get involved at the detail level. I have always done my homework on issues, before forming an opinion, and have always voted in what I’ve seen as the best interest of the Ward’s residents. I have demonstrated leadership on the City Council as past President, current Chairperson of various committees and as strong voice on numerous issues. I’m proud of my record as Ward 2 Councillor.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Treat people with respect, the way you’d want to be treated and always be mindful of everyone’s point of view. Consider all sides of an issue, before taking a position.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I continue to be fully committed to the job of Ward 2 Councillor and want voters to know that I’ll continue to be focused on Ward issues as well as issues that impact the entire city. I assure all Ward 2 voters that I do not take their support for granted. Addressing each voter individually, I respectively ask for your support in this fall’s election and your vote on Election Day, Tuesday November 5th.

Previously Published Peabody Candidate Profiles:

Candidates for reelection are marked with an asterisk (*).

City Council, At-Large

John DeRosa

Anne Manning-Martin *

Ryan Melville *

City Council, Ward One

Craig Welton

City Council, Ward Two

Jaclyn Corriveau

City Council, Ward Six

Keith Doucette

PMLP Commission

Charles Bonfanti