Sept. 22 preliminary election

(Choose one, for two-year terms; top two will advance to Nov. 3 final election)

* denotes incumbent

Questions

1. Should the city's meal tax be increased to raise local revenue?

2. Is it time to review and change the city charter?

3. Should all six of the city's firehouses remain open even if other departments are financially effected?

Gary Mannion Jr., 20

Address: 380 Elm St.

Personal: Single

Education: St. Mary of the Assumption School; Whittier Vocational Regional Technical High School, Haverhill; now a junior at Merrimack College studying political science.

Work experience: Student.

Political experience: Ran a sticker campaign for Lawrence City Council in 2007.

Number one issue facing city: Support of public safety on the City Council.

1. No

2. Yes

3. Yes

Edwin Rodriguez, 57

Address: 234 Haverhill St.

Personal: Wife Eva, three sons.

Education: Bachelor's from University Latino Americana; mMaster's in urban ministry from Gordon Conwell Theological School.

Work experience: Pastor and president of Movimiento Evangelistico Misionero, ef Faro Universal.

Political experience: None.

Number one issue facing city: The budget.

1. No

2. Yes

3. Yes

Ruth Rojas, 35

Address: 45 Summer St.

Personal: Married, three children.

Education: Associate's in science studies from Bronx Community College; certificates of leadership from Lawrence CommunityWorks and Cambridge College.

Work experience: Foreclosure intervention specialist, case manager, credit and budget analyst and notary public for Lawrence CommunityWorks.

Political experience: Two unsuccessful bids for City Council District B; community activist.

Number one issue facing city: Unemployment.

1. No

2. Yes

3. No

*Grisel Silva, 36

Address: 42 White St.

Personal: Single, three children.

Education: Certificate of business administration at Sawyer School of Business; FBI Citizen Academy alumni.

Work experience: Project coordinator and patient care assistant

Political experience: City Councilor, two terms.

Number one issue facing city: Fiscal budget constraints affecting public safety and services.

1. No

2. Yes

3. Yes