Pete Capano is a lifelong Democrat, a U.S. Army Veteran, and a graduate of Lynn Public Schools and the University of Massachusetts. From an early age, Pete had a strong desire to serve his country and his community. He joined the U.S. Army in 1976, serving in Europe during the cold war. After leaving the Army, Pete returned to Lynn, and like many in the area, began working for General Electric. While there, Pete, as President of his union, is credited with leading the negotiating committee that persuaded the company to bring nearly 300 new, middle-class jobs to Lynn.
Pete has ensured that the benefits of Lynn’s revitalization are enjoyed by the entire community. He was instrumental in bringing together developers, the AFL-CIO Housing Trust and the City of Lynn for an all union-built, mixed-use development that provides affordable housing and a Community Benefits Agreement that included a $100,000 gift to the Lynn Community Enrichment Program to provide night school services to Lynn residents.
When a developer wanted tax breaks to build a new hotel in Salem, Pete worked with a community organization, Neighbor to Neighbor, to get a guarantee that local residents would benefit from the new jobs created.
When the housing bubble burst leaving hundreds of Lynn residents facing foreclosure, through no fault of their own, Pete sponsored and fought successfully for the passage of the Homeowner Bill of Rights. The ordnance allowed over 150 Lynn residents facing foreclosure by the big banks to stay in their homes and work out a more affordable mortgage.