If Lowell is your home, this is your place

Thats a very clever pivot, Azmath, but it completely falls apart under basic municipal law because the federal government and the city government operate under completely different legal and financial universes. But, you do make a good point about people’s frustration with the gridlock of national politics, the war, unemployment, etc. However, using the national debt to evaluate a local city council race is like comparing apples to oranges. This is the big reason why pure academic degrees are not enough. The Federal Government can print money, the City of Lowell cannot. The reason Congress can run a $40 trillion debt is because the federal government has the power to print currency and run massive deficits. Lowell on the other hand is legally mandated to balance their budget. Under Massachusetts General Laws, every single city and town is legally required to pass a strictly balanced budget every single year. If a city councilor doesn’t understand or have the experience with the technicalities of municipal revenue, state tax caps (like Proposition 2½), Chapter 70 school funding formulas, and union labor contracts, the state will literally step in and take over the city's finances. Just like they did with the school system in Lawrence, remember? BTW, is the Lawrence school system still in receivership? Anyway, local government is about actual hands on experiences, not just textbook theory. A political science degree (I have one too) is excellent for discussing macroeconomics or national policy, but it doesn't teach you how to audit and manage a real time municipal fire department burning through $1 million in overtime, or how to manage complex municipal line items. That comes with real world life experiences. Yes, we absolutely need to encourage young people to bring their “fresh perspectives” to civic life, but a local city council seat during a very severe current and future fiscal strain isn't an entry-level training ground, sorry, it just isn’t. Pawtucketville and the city of Lowell needs someone who already knows how to calmly, collaboratively and professionally sit at the table and balance the budget through “teamwork” and act like a respectful grownup who doesn’t call people names, because that my friend, will get you nowhere fast and basically reveals your maturity and education level. Have a wonderful Columbus & Indigenous People’s Day!