Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JAnUARy 9, 2026 ELECTION 2026: | FROM PAGE 1 ting adequate representation?’ In this situation, I don’t think we are,” Meaney said. “After the article, I was able to get the highway paving done. Then I asked myself, ‘Why am I going through a middleman who isn’t going to call me back?’ If you want somebody who’s truly responsive and cares about public service, vote for me,” he said. “I’m running because I want people to have a more responsive government, with somebody who is accessible; somebody who can help them and represent them well,” he said. Born and raised in Lynn Meaney was born in the old Lynn Hospital on Boston Street and considers himself a lifelong resident of the city, where he has strong family roots. His father Michael is a retired Lynn firefighter and his mother is a retired GE Aviation employee. After graduation, he enlisted in the US Navy and served during Iraqi Freedom. He returned to Lynn and decided to pursue a college education, enrolling in classes at North Shore Community College. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and a Doctorate in Dental Medicine from Boston University. Dr. Meaney has been a dentist since 2013, and three years later he became a Lynn small business owner, opening Broadway Family Dental at Wyoma Square. He met his wife, Tara, while studying at UConn. The couple has three-year-old twin girls, Maya and Madeline, and a oneyear-old son, Matthew. The task of facing Wong Meaney is in the early stages of his second two-year term on the Lynn City Council. He faces a formidable opponent in the 73-year-old Wong, who is an eight-term incumbent, having first been elected in November 2010, when he defeated then-Democratic incumbent state Rep. Mark Falzone by 382 votes. Wong is a longtime Saugus resident and his family’s business – the Kowloon Restaurant – has been a major dining destination on Route 1 for 75 years. Shortly after Meaney announced his candidacy on the Pete Meaney for State Representative Facebook page, he drew a humorous response from Peter Manoogian, a longtime participant in Saugus politics and town government. “How can you possibly compete with free chicken wings and Mai Tais?” Manoogian quipped in his Facebook post. “This is hilarious,” Meaney responded. Though the comments were meant to be lighthearted, there is some truth to Manoogian’s remarks. Wong’s family business is A FAMILY MAN: Pete Meaney and his wife, Tara, with their three children – one-year-old son Matthew and three-yearold twin girls, Maya and Madeline – relax in their Lynn home. Meaney announced on New Year’s Day that he will run as the Democratic candidate for state representative in the 9th Essex District House race this fall. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) popular in town and Wong is a popular Saugus politician who hasn’t faced opposition since 2018, when he beat his nearest of two opponents by more than 3,000 votes. There is also the geographic factor – a candidate needs to dominate the polls in Saugus to win the election. “I’m going in with eyes wide open,” Meaney said. “The 9th District is a little bit of Lynn, a little bit of Wakefield, and Saugus has the lion’s share. If you break down the math, I believe the district is 20 percent in Lynn, 20 percent in Wakefield and about 60 percent in Saugus,” he said. But Meaney talks confidently about his campaign task at hand. “Anybody who has been there an extensive length of time is vulnerable, and I think he’s been there just a little too long,” he said of Wong. Meaney is also financially equipped to make a serious political run for the State House. He had $92,550.45 available in his campaign war chest as of Wednesday, according to the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF). Meanwhile, Wong had $23,846.48 in cash on hand, according to the OCPF. THE ASPIRING CANDIDATE: Lynn City Councilor Pete Meaney, who was elected to a second term representing Ward 1 last fall, at the city’s recent inauguration. He plans on running for the 9th Essex District House seat occupied by state Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus), an eightterm incumbent. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) There’s also one controversial issue of great importance to Saugus residents that may draw votes for Meaney – his current stance on the future of WIN Waste Innovations, owners of the trash-to-energy plant on Route 107 in Saugus. “There are two schools of thought on WIN Waste,” Meaney said. “One is to keep it open. The other is to shut it down. Right now, I’d be in favor of closing WIN Waste,” he said. That’s a position that Wong has never supported. In the press release announcing his candidacy, Meaney said that if elected, he will focus on being an accessible advocate for constituents and a unifying voice at the State House guided by the same work ethic and commitment to service that have defined his career. “While most politicians are in it for themselves, I’ve spent my life serving others, whether it was protecting our nation in uniform or caring for families in my dental practice,” Meaney said. “I’m running for State Representative because our district deserves a leader who is accessible, brings people together, and never stops working hard for the people they represent,” he said. “I’m asking voters to put their trust in someone who knows what hard work looks like and who will always put people first,” Meaney added. “Together, we can build a stronger future for the 9th Essex District.”
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