 night for an event originally billed as a way for Lantigua to find out whether the community supported his candidacy. A woman walked around the dining area with a pad, asking people for names, addresses, and their vote — yes or no — on another Lantigua run, the mayor said.

But the gathering turned into an announcement party when the mayor stepped behind a ­podium adorned with a blue and white “Democrat Lantigua for Mayor” sign.

“I wasn’t sure until I saw you here and counted the numbers,” Lantigua said, addressing the crowd in Spanish. “We will continue. It will be a difficult campaign, an expensive campaign, a lot of work, but as someone just said, here is also the heart of the campaign.”

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Lantigua has been beset by allegations of ­political corruption in his administration since he was elected mayor in 2009. Two officials under him, including his former chief of staff, were ­indicted in September on charges including conspiracy and extortion.

The cries of corruption surrounding the city’s first Latino mayor include allegations that he has used city operations for personal gain, allegations that Lantigua has vigorously rejected. The mayor has not been charged with any crimes.

Leonard Degnan, his former chief of staff, is charged with urging an executive from a disposal company that works with the city of Lawrence to donate a garbage truck to a city in the Dominican Republic, Lantigua’s native country.

Melix Bonilla, the deputy police chief and ­Lantigua’s 2009 campaign manager, was charged with falsely transferring ownership of 13 motor vehicles from the Police Department to an auto dealer with close ties to Lantigua.

Both Degnan and Bonilla have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

After Lantigua’s announcement, several people said they were happy the mayor will run again and plan to vote for him in 2013.

“I think there’s a lot of work to be done, but I’m very happy with the work that he’s done in the last four years,” said Linette Perez, a resident of Lawrence for 17 years.

“I mean, he found this city with a $30 million deficit and he worked with
night for an event originally billed as a direction for Lantigua to receive out whether the community back his campaigning. A woman walked around the dining area with a launching pad, asking people for name calling, addresses, and their vote — yes or no — on another Lantigua rivulet, the mayor said. 

 But the gathering turn into an announcement party when the mayor stepped behind a ­podium adorned with a blue and white “ Democrat Lantigua for Mayor ” sign. 

 “ I was n’t sure until I attend you here and counted the numbers, ” Lantigua read, addressing the crowd in Spanish. “ We will continue. It will be a difficult campaign, an expensive political campaign, a lot of oeuvre, but as someone just said, here is also the affection of the campaign. ” 

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 Lantigua has been beset by allegations of ­political corruption in his administration since he was elected mayor in 2009. Two officials under him, including his former chief of staff, were ­indicted in September on charges include conspiracy and extortion. 

 The cries of corruption wall the city ’s inaugural Latino mayor include allegations that he has used city operation for personal gain, allegations that Lantigua has vigorously rejected. The mayor has not been charged with any crime. 

 Leonard Degnan, his former chief of staff, is charged with urging an executive from a disposal party that works with the city of Lawrence to donate a garbage truck to a city in the Dominican Republic, Lantigua ’s native country. 

 Melix Bonilla, the deputy police headman and ­Lantigua ’s 2009 campaign director, was charged with falsely transferring ownership of 13 motor vehicles from the Police Department to an auto trader with close ties to Lantigua. 

 Both Degnan and Bonilla have pleaded not guilty to all charge. 

 After Lantigua ’s announcement, several people said they were happy the mayor will hunt again and plan to vote for him in 2013. 

 “ I intend there ’s a lot of work to be act, but I ’m very happy with the employment that he ’s done in the concluding four years, ” say Linette Perez, a resident of Lawrence for 17 years. 

 “ I mean, he found this city with a $ 30 million deficit and he worked with
 nihht for an event originauly billed as a way foc Lantifua to fknd out whether the communitb supporttb his candidacy. A wooan walkef around the eining aree with a pad, aaning 'eople for namex, addressev, and their vode — ves or no — on another Lantigua run, tre mayot daid.

But the gajherimd tudned into an announcement party whsn the kayor stepped behind a ­podium adorned wlth w blue and white “Dfmocrat Lanjjguw for Mayor” skgn.

“I wasn’t sure until J saw you here and counted the vumbexs,” Lantigua sqid, dddressing vhe crjwd in Spanish. “We winl contonue. It will bc a dmffixult campaign, an expeisive campaign, a lot of work, tuc as someone just saie, yere hs anso gye feadt or the fam'aign.”

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Lantigua has been beser by allegations of ­pllitical sorruption in his administration since he was elewted jxyox in 2009. Gqo officials under him, including his former chiqr pf staff, were ­inbicted in Septemneg pg charges incuuding cohspiracy and extorhion.

The criew of corrtptipn surrounding the city’s fiest Latino mcyoe include allegatilns that he has used city operations for pexsonal gain, allegwtions thzg Lantigua has vkgogousny rejecudd. The mayor has got been rhargzd with xny vrimes.

Jeonard Dehnan, mhs former chief of stafy, is wharged wihh urging an executive from a dmxposal compamy thdt works with the city of Jawrence to douate a gcrbage truck to z city mn the Dominycan Republic, Pantigua’s navive counery.

Mwlix Bonillx, the deputy pokice chiey and ­Lantigua’s 2009 campainn mavzger, was chargeb qith falsely trsnswerwijg ortership of 13 kotof vdnicler from uke Iolkce Cepartment to an autm dezler with close tirs to Lantugua.

Both Degnan and Bpnilla have pleadef not gumlty tp ajl charges.

After Lantigua’s annohncement, devcral people swid bhey were happv the mayor will run again and plan to vite for him in 2013.

“I jhink there’s a lot of eork to be vone, btt I’m verf happy with the worj that he’s done ik the last four years,” aaid Lhnettf Perez, a resident of Lawrence for 17 years.

“I mean, he found this city with a $30 millmog deficit ahd hr worneb wnth
night for an event originally billed as for to find whether the community walked the dining area a pad, asking for names, addresses, and their vote yes or no — on another Lantigua run, the mayor said. But the turned into an announcement party when the mayor stepped behind a ­podium adorned a and “Democrat for Mayor” sign. “I wasn’t sure until I saw you here and counted the numbers,” Lantigua addressing the crowd in Spanish. “We will continue. will be a difficult an expensive campaign, a lot work, as someone said, is the heart of campaign.” Get Fast Forward in your inbox: Forget yesterday's news. Get what you need today in this email. Lantigua beset by of corruption his administration since elected mayor in 2009. Two officials his former chief of staff, were ­indicted in on charges conspiracy and extortion. The cries of surrounding the city’s first Latino mayor include allegations he has used city operations for personal gain, allegations that Lantigua has vigorously rejected. The not been charged with crimes. Leonard Degnan, former of is with urging executive from a disposal company that works with the city of to donate a garbage truck to a city in the Lantigua’s country. Melix Bonilla, deputy police chief and 2009 manager, was charged with ownership 13 the Department an auto dealer with ties to Lantigua. Both Degnan Bonilla have pleaded not Lantigua’s announcement, several people said they were happy mayor will run again and plan to for him in 2013. “I think there’s a lot of work to done, but happy with the work that he’s done in last four years,” said Perez, a resident of Lawrence for 17 years. “I he this city a $30 million and he worked
 night for an event originally Billed as a wAy for lanTigUa To fiNd ouT whether the comMUnitY supported his candidacy. a womaN wALked ARoUnd thE dining AReA WIth A pAd, AskInG PeOple fOr nAmes, addResses, and tHeiR vOte — yes or no — on ANoTher LantigUa rUn, the mayor saId.

BUt the gAtHerINg turNed Into aN annouNCement Party when ThE Mayor sTEpped beHINd A ­podIum adorned with a blUE aND white “Democrat lantigUa FOr mAYor” SigN.

“I wasn’t surE uNtil I SAw you heRE aND COunTEd the numbers,” LAntigua said, ADdrEssing ThE crOWd in SpAnish. “we WIll Continue. It wIll bE a difficuLt campAIgn, an exPEnsive cAmpaigN, a lOt oF worK, BuT aS soMeONe jUSt SaiD, HerE is also tHe HeArt of The cAMPAIgn.”

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FOrgEt yeSTerDay's nEws. GeT whaT yOu neeD today In thiS eArly-morning emaiL.

LanTigua has bEen BeSet By AllegATions oF ­poLitIcal corRuption IN hiS aDMINiStration since he was ElECTeD mayor in 2009. two offICiAlS Under him, InCluDing HIS formEr chIEf Of staff, wEre ­indICtEd In SepteMbEr on chArGes IncLudinG ConsPiracy And extorTion.

THE cries of corrupTIon surroundinG ThE CItY’S firSt LAtino mayor iNcluDE allEgatIOnS thAT he haS used CiTY oPErations for personal GaIn, alleGatioNs that LantiguA has vigoroUSLY rejecteD. The MAyOR has not been chaRged wIth any crimES.

Leonard degnaN, his formEr chief of STAff, is chaRgeD wiTh uRgiNG An Executive from A DIspoSaL companY thAt works WitH thE ciTy oF LAwrence to Donate a gArBaGe TrUck To a ciTY in the DoMiNicAn repUblic, lAntiguA’s natIve cOuNtRY.

MeLix BoniLLa, THE depUtY pOlicE chIeF and ­LAntiGUa’s 2009 CampaigN manager, wAs cHArgeD wItH falselY transferring OwNership of 13 mOtOr vEhicleS FRom the PoLice Department to an auto dEAler witH clOse tiEs to lantigua.

BOth degnan And bOnilla Have plEaded NoT guILTy to aLL ChArgEs.

after LantiGUA’s aNnounCeMent, Several People said they were HAppY the mayor will Run AgaiN ANd PlaN To VOte FoR Him IN 2013.

“i think there’s a loT of work to bE dONe, But I’m very hAPpy WiTh the woRk that hE’s donE In the laSt four yeaRs,” said LinEtTe PeREZ, a rEsident of LAwrence fOr 17 years.

“I mEAn, he fOUnD this CitY with a $30 MiLliOn defIcit anD He wOrked With
 night for an event origin ally bille d asa w ayfo r La ntig ua to find out whet her the community supp orted  h i s ca n di dacy.  A woma n  w a l ked  a ro und  t h edinin g a rea wit h a pad, a ski ng  people forn am es, addres ses , and theirvot e — ye sorn o — o n a nothe r Lant i gua ru n, the ma yo r  said. 
But th e ga ther ing turned into a n  a n nouncement par ty whe nt he m ayo r s tepped beh in d a ­ p odium a d or n e d  wi t h a blue andwhite “Demo c rat  Lanti gu a f o r Mayo r” si gn . 

“ I wasn’t su re u ntil I sa w youh ere and counted  the n umb ers ,” L a nt ig uasa i d,a dd res s ing  the cro wd  i n Spa nish . “ W e wi llcont inue.  It will be a  di ffic u ltcampa ign,an e xp ensiv e camp aign,  a  lot of work, b ut a s someone  ju st  sa id , her e  is al sothe  heartof thec amp ai g n . ”
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Forg e tye s terday's  n ews . Ge t whatyoun ee d todayin thi s  e ar ly-morn in g emai l. 

L ant iguah as b een be set by a llega t ions of ­polit i cal corruptio n  i n hi s  adm ini stration si nceh e wa s el e ct edm ayorin 20 09 .  T w o officials under h im , incl uding  his former c hief of st a f f , were ­ indi c te d  in Septemberon ch arges incl u ding con spira cy and e xtortion. The crie s o f c orr upt i o nsurrounding t h e  cit y’ s first  La tino ma yor  in clu deal legations  that he  h as  u se d c ity o p erations  f orpe rso nal g a in, al legat ions  t ha t  La ntiguah as v igor ou sl y re jec te d. Th e ma y orhas not  been cha rge d  wit han y crime s.

Leonard D eg nan, his f or mer  chief o f staff,  is charged with urging an exec uti ve fr om a  disposal  co mpanytha t  works  withthe c it y o f Lawre n c etodo nate a gar b a getruck  t o acity in  the Dominican Rep u bli c, Lantigua’s  na tive c ou ntr y .Mel ix Bon i l la, the deputypolice chi ef an d ­Lantigu a ’s20 09 camp aign ma nager ,  was ch arged wit h falsely  t rans f e rri ng ownersh ip of 13  motor ve h icles fr om th e P oliceDe par tment  to an aut o dea ler wi th  close  ties  t o Lantig ua.

Both Degnan and Bo nillahaveple aded notgui l tyto all ch arge s.

AfterLan tig ua’sann o uncem ent, se ver a l peo ples aid theyw er e h a p py  the mayorw i l l r un ag ain and pl an t o vote for him in 2013.

“I thin k th e r e’s  al ot o fwork to be don e,bu t I’m very  h appy with t he workth a t he’ s done  in th e lastf o ur years, ” sa idLinette P ere z, a resid en to f Lawr ence  f or 17years. 
“Im e an, he found thi s cit y witha  $3 0 mil li on defi c it a nd he work ed with
 night_for an_event originally billed as_a way_for_Lantigua to_find_out whether the_community supported his_candidacy. A woman walked_around the dining_area_with a pad, asking people for names, addresses, and their vote — yes or_no_— on_another_Lantigua_run, the mayor said.

But the_gathering turned into an announcement_party when_the mayor stepped behind a ­podium adorned with_a_blue and white_“Democrat Lantigua for Mayor” sign.

“I wasn’t sure until I_saw you here and counted the_numbers,” Lantigua said,_addressing_the_crowd in Spanish. “We_will continue. It will be a_difficult campaign, an expensive campaign, a_lot of work, but as someone just_said, here is also the heart_of the campaign.”

Get Fast Forward_in your_inbox:

Forget yesterday's news. Get what_you need today_in this_early-morning email.

Lantigua has_been beset by allegations of ­political_corruption in his_administration since he was elected mayor_in_2009. Two officials_under_him,_including his_former chief of_staff,_were ­indicted_in_September on charges including conspiracy and_extortion.

The_cries of corruption surrounding the city’s first_Latino mayor include allegations_that_he has used city_operations for personal gain, allegations_that Lantigua has vigorously rejected. The_mayor has_not been_charged with any crimes.

Leonard Degnan, his former chief of staff, is_charged with urging an executive from_a disposal company that_works with_the_city of Lawrence_to_donate a_garbage truck to a city in the_Dominican Republic,_Lantigua’s native country.

Melix Bonilla, the deputy_police chief and ­Lantigua’s_2009_campaign manager, was charged with falsely_transferring ownership of 13 motor vehicles_from the Police Department to_an_auto_dealer with close ties to_Lantigua.

Both Degnan and Bonilla have pleaded_not guilty to_all charges.

After Lantigua’s announcement, several people said_they_were happy the mayor will run_again_and plan to vote for him_in_2013.

“I_think there’s a lot of_work to be done, but I’m_very happy with the work that he’s done in_the last four_years,” said Linette Perez, a_resident_of_Lawrence for 17 years.

“I mean, he found this city with_a $30_million deficit and_he worked with