METHUEN — City Councilors Deborah Quinn, John Cronin Jr. and Stephen Zanni want to become the city's second highest ranking elected official.

Councilors typically choose a chairman and vice chairman at the first meeting of the year, after behind-the-scenes lobbying and jockeying. Whoever holds the chairman's seat is second only to the mayor among Methuen's elected leaders.

Quinn, Cronin and Zanni said during interviews that they'd be willing to sit in the chair.

"I think at this point in time, we need to bring this council together a little more than it has been," said Quinn, a second-term councilor.

"It's something I've done before, feel comfortable with and thought I'd put my name in," Cronin said.

"I think I bring some experience to the position and also dealing with the tough economic times coming up, and I think I've worked well with other councilors in the past," said Zanni, who served as chairman before the current chairman, Philip Lahey Jr., took over last year.

Cronin has served on the council for more than 20 years and has been chairman five or six times, he said.

He wants to lead the council again, because he's retired now and has the time to put in, he said.

Quinn said she would like the council to act as one, "Not so much of the 'I did this' and 'I did that.'"

The chair sets the agenda and runs meetings, serving for one year at a time.

However, the vote might not be taken tonight.

Cronin said he will ask to postpone it, because Councilor Larry Giordano won't be there.

Giordano, who supports Cronin for chairman, will be in the Dominican Republic on a Christian mission. He will return in time for the Jan. 20 meeting, he said.

Quinn said she doesn't mind if tonight's vote is delayed.

"I think all nine of us should be there," she said.

Giordano would like to be vice chairman, he said. Cronin and Councilor Kenneth Willette Jr. said they will support him.

Zanni and Lahey said they will vote for Councilor Jennifer Kannan for vice chair.

Kannan said she would like to be vice chair, but she's undecided about her pick for chair.

Lahey plans to vote for Quinn for chair. Quinn is the current vice chair, and Lahey said he likes to see the vice chair take over as chair.

Willette said he supports Cronin for chair.

Councilors Joseph Leone and Jeanne Pappalardo said they are undecided. Quinn said she is undecided on her vote for vice chair.

ÔÇæÔÇæÔÇæ

Join the discussion. To comment on stories and see what others are saying, log on to eagletribune.com.