Lynn, local pols target at St. Patrick's Day roast (2024)

SALEM – Lynn and members of its state delegation were targets of good-natured ribbing at the annual St. Patrick’s Day roast at Finz Restaurant Friday morning, a fundraiser for state Rep. John Keenan, D-Salem, at which retiring state Sen. Fred Berry was the guest of honor.Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll again demonstrated her quick wit at the podium, explaining she’s always looking for ways to partner with neighboring communities.”To my friends in Lynn, yes, I know ya never really liked the Lowe’s project, despite the jobs and the taxes, that was never a big hit,” Driscoll said. “But there is a silver lining, you’ll be glad to know The Golden Banana is interested in relocating to that site.””Now we’re partnering,” a member of the delegation shouted from the back of the room.Click for a photo gallery of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations on the North Shore.Driscoll then honed in on state Rep. Steve Walsh, D-Lynn, and prompted thunderous laughter by commenting, “Steve, ya know there’s a reason Jesus wasn’t born in Lynn – couldn’t find three wise men and a virgin.”Adding a disclaimer, Driscoll said, “You know my father is from Lynn and I love Lynn. I’m a proud West Lynner – very West.”Driscoll also took a shot at Peabody’s downtown flooding problem, saying, “I reached out to the new mayor of Peabody, Ted Bettencourt, to ask him if he’d like a ferry stop downtown. We really want to regionalize that ferry service.”And to Berry, Driscoll said, “You were elected to the State Senate in 1982 ? Gas was 91 cents. A postage stamp cost you 20 cents. Epcot Center had just opened at Disney World. Time Magazine’s Man of the Year was this new-fangled thing called The Computer, Ronald Reagan was president, Ed King was governor, Barack Obama was pursuing a political science degree and Tim Murray just crashed his first Big Wheel.”Keenan, who emceed the event, presented Republican Saugus state Rep. Donald Wong with a “Lynn-Sanity” basketball shirt, saying the phenomenon focusing on rising New York Knicks basketball star Jeremy Lin actually began with the election of Wong as one of the first two Asian Americans elected to the House of Representatives.During his turn at the mic, Wong played right along.”First of all, your cameras are OK, but pictures of me come out a little yellow,” Wong joked. “Last year I had a little problem coming to this location because I couldn’t find it. This year I was rushing here and a state trooper stopped me and asked for a green card.”I gave him my Foxwoods card, and that’s why we need casinos in Massachusetts.”State Rep. Robert Fennel, who said Walsh is the “comedian of the Lynn delegation,” and state Sen. Thomas McGee spoke briefly in praise of Berry.McGee, chairman of the Transportation Committee, did, however, thank Keenan for providing him a bucket of blue paint with paint rollers, to paint a “Blue Line” from Revere to Lynn.”It’s great to have the paint, John, and I’m ready to go (start working on the Blue Line),” McGee said.Walsh was loaded for bear when he took the podium.A potential candidate for Lynn mayor next year, Walsh perhaps most surprisingly took a strong shot at the administration of Lynn Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy, when he commented to the Salem mayor.”Mayor Driscoll, it’s great to be here in your city ? Truly seeing Lynn-Sanity in my City Hall, I know how great a mayor you are,” Walsh said.Walsh also chided colleague Fennell.”Bob has been elected for 18 years and up to now no one has known who he was,” Walsh said. “He used to say, ‘Please don’t tell anyone who I am.’ But this year Bob has two opponents, so I want everyone to know who Bob Fennel is so we can keep him in the delegation. His strategy worked for 18 years, but it has finally caught up with him.”Berry, the guest of honor, later played off on that crack, “I just found out that was Bob Fennell. I thought he cleaned the pool at the YMCA or something. I’m very surprised. I’m delighted Bob, you’re good-looking enough to win.”Walsh also had some sharp di