Michael Higgins Launches Bid For Peabody Ward 6 City Council Seat

PEABODY, MA — Michael Higgins, a senior engineer and former youth soccer and baseball coach, told Patch he plans to run for the open Ward 6 seat on the Peabody City Council on Friday.

He will run to replace current Councilor Mark O'Neill, who said last month he would not seek re-election.

Higgins said his background in business and engineering provides him with the necessary skills to represent Ward 6. A three-decade resident of the ward, Higgins is a senior engineer with Sensitech, Inc. of Beverly. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical and computer engineering from Northeastern University and a Master of Business Administration from Boston University.

Higgins said he believes the next Ward 6 city councilor will need to focus on rising costs influenced by the economy and that it will be critical to strike a balance between managing

budget pressures and ensuring essential services provided by the city, including education and support for our senior residents.

Higgins said he plans to be responsive to the residents of Ward 6.

"I am looking forward to meeting with residents to hear their issues and concerns as I begin this campaign," he said.

Higgins and his wife, Sheila, have lived in Ward 6 for 29 years where they raised three children, Jessica, Andrea and Eric.

Higgins coached with the Peabody Youth Soccer Association, Peabody West Little League and served as a Board member of PWLL.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)