SAUGUS Your Local News, Sports and Information Online. Scan & Subscribe! Vol. 28, No.3 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday A MEMORABLE DRAWING 781-233-4446 Friday, January 23, 2026 Election 2026: Lynn Inspectional Division Director Zosia VanMeter is the second Democrat to declare her candidacy for state Rep. Donald Wong’s 9th Essex District House seat By Mark E. Vogler Z osia VanMeter, Lynn’s Inspectional Division Director, recently became the second Democrat from that city to officially declare her candidacy for the 9th Essex District House seat that state Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus) has comfortably held since 2011. VanMeter, a 39-year-old immigrant from the Philippines who has lived most of her life on the North Shore, hopes to oust Wong, who will seek his ninth twoyear term in the Nov. 3 state election. But, first, she must prevail in the Sept. 1 Democratic Primary over Lynn Ward Fiorella Moreira, a third grader at Belmonte STEAM Academy, displayed the holiday card that state Sen. Brendan P. Crighton (D-Lynn) sent out last month based on her award-winning drawing in the senator’s annual holiday card contest. Crighton (right) showed up at Jennifer Nicolo’s class last week to treat Fiorella and her fellow students to a pizza party and a question-and-answer period. Please see inside for more photos and the story. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) ~ Home of the Week ~ SAUGUS - 1st AD - Sought-after Sprawling Ranch boasting 8 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, eat-in kitchen with ceramic tile floor w/slider to heated breezeway, dining room open to large living room with gas fireplace – great for entertaining! Finished lower level with newer ct flooring and fireplace. Central air w/newer condenser, new hot water, new walkways and patio, 1 car garage with newer door, large, level lot, located in desirable Lynn Fells neighborhood, close to everything! MINT-move right in! Offered at $799,900 335 Central Street, Saugus, MA 01906 (781) 233-7300 View all our listings at: CarpenitoRealEstate.com One Councilor Pete Meaney, who won his second two-year term last November. VanMeter, who has worked the last four and a half years in Lynn city government, including the last three years as acting and later permanent director of the Inspectional Division, told The Saugus Advocate this week that she decided to run for the State House last fall because she didn’t like the way constituents of the 9th Essex House District were being represented. “I think the current representation we get from Donald Wong is nonexistent and nonresponsive,” VanMeter said in an interview. ELECTION 2026 | SEE PAGE 2 ELECTION 2026 A POTENTIAL WONG CHALLENGER: Lynn’s Inspectional Division Director, Zosia VanMeter, announced that she will run for the 9th Essex District House seat as a Democratic candidate in the fall election. (Courtesy photo to the Saugus Advocate) Established 1978 Mid-grade Regular 2.64 3.24 3.35 $3.37 Full Service ULS $3.259 Order online at angelosoil.com Kerosene Now Available! FLEET CARD Check Out Our LOW PRICES!
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