by Ryan Faria

Every four years, the presidential election season comes and brings out a healthy percentage of the overall voter base.

While national elections tend to promote a much higher level of civic engagement, state and local elections don’t draw nearly as many people to the polls.  Evidence of this can be seen with the City of Lowell’s Municipal Election in November 2023 where just under 10% (7,516 of the 75,294) of the registered voters came out to decide who will serve as our 11 city councilors and 6 school committee members.

The local primary elections this September will include races for State Representative and Northern Middlesex Registry of Deeds.  Though there are a few three-way races featuring many well-known candidates, the jury is still out on how many registered voters will get to the polls to cast their ballot in the shadows of the general election only two months later.

This informational article aims to educate the reader and provide transparency regarding the financial information for each of the candidates’ campaigns.

The below financial information (which is readily available on the Massachusetts OCPF Website) will show sources of contributions for each campaign, how much each candidate has earned and spent on their campaign and what type of financial firepower each candidate has to manage through the home stretch leading up to the primary polls on Tuesday, September 3^rd.

16^th Middlesex District – State Representative

This region has only one candidate running, which is Incumbent Rodney Elliott.  Since only one candidate is running in this race, there will be no primary election in September for this seat.

Rodney Elliott (Incumbent)

Campaign Treasurer: Mikayla Elliott
2024 Starting Balance: $39,665.62
JAN-JUN Contributions: $10,174.69
JAN-JUN Expenditures: $875.00
June 30 2024 Cash Balance: $48,965.31

Total Funds Raised: $10,174.69 (January 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024)

• Individual Contributions from Lowell: $4,165 (23 Unique People)
• Individual Contributions Outside Lowell: $3,850 (18 Unique People)
• Unitemized Contributions: $910
• Union/Committee Contributions: $1,250
• Candidate Loans: $0
• Number of Individual Contributors of $250 or Greater: 12
• Average Individual Contribution: $195

 

17^th Middlesex District – State Representative

This region has only one candidate running, which is Incumbent Vanna Howard.  Since only one candidate is running in this race, there will be no primary election in September for this seat.

Vanna Howard (Incumbent)

Campaign Treasurer: Judith L Huber
2024 Starting Balance: $56,393.03
JAN-JUN Contributions: $12,560.93
JAN-JUN Expenditures: $742.00
June 30 2024 Cash Balance: $68,211.96

Total Funds Raised: $12,560.93 (January 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024)

• Individual Contributions from Lowell: $7,056 (61 Unique People)
• Individual Contributions Outside Lowell: $3,505 (26 Unique People)
• Unitemized Contributions: $0
• Union/Committee Contributions: $2,000
• Candidate Loans: $0
• Number of Individual Contributors of $250 or Greater: 16
• Average Individual Contribution: $121

18^th Middlesex District – State Representative

This region has three candidates running, which include Incumbent Rady Mom and Challengers Tara Hong and Andrew Kollar.  Since three candidates are running in this race, there will be a primary election in September for this seat.

Rady Mom (Incumbent)

Campaign Treasurer: Steven H. Shorrock
2024 Starting Balance: $12,138.25
JAN-JUN Contributions: $14,423.27
JAN-JUN Expenditures: $10,497.29
June 30 2024 Cash Balance: $16,064.23

Total Funds Raised: $14,423.27 (January 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024)

• Individual Contributions from Lowell: $4,783 (27 Unique People)
• Individual Contributions Outside Lowell: $3,515 (17 Unique People)
• Unitemized Contributions: $3,925
• Union/Committee Contributions: $2,200
• Candidate Loans: $0
• Number of Individual Contributors of $250 or Greater: 13
• Average Individual Contribution: $189

Tara Hong

Campaign Treasurer: Judith Ann Durant
2024 Starting Balance: $413.17
JAN-JUN Contributions: $16,936.14
JAN-JUN Expenditures: $7,032.59
June 30 2024 Cash Balance: $10,316.72

Total Funds Raised: $16,936.14 (January 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024)

• Individual Contributions from Lowell: $10,061 (128 Unique People)
• Individual Contributions Outside Lowell: $4,527 (36 Unique People)
• Unitemized Contributions: $348
• Union/Committee Contributions: $0
• Candidate Loans: $2,000
• Number of Individual Contributors of $250 or Greater: 10
• Average Individual Contribution: $89

Andrew Kollar

Campaign Treasurer: Justin T. Owens
2024 Starting Balance: $0
JAN-JUN Contributions: $5,645.64
JAN-JUN Expenditures: $5,174.37
June 30 2024 Cash Balance: $471.27

Total Funds Raised: $5,645.64 (January 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024)

• Individual Contributions from Lowell: $55 (1 Unique Person)
• Individual Contributions Outside Lowell: $591 (12 Unique People)
• Unitemized Contributions: $0
• Union/Committee Contributions: $0
• Candidate Loans: $5,000
• Number of Individual Contributors of $250 or Greater: 0
• Average Individual Contribution: $50

Summary of 18^th Middlesex Candidates

Below is a summary of the three candidates’ 1^st Half of 2024 (January through June) Contributions and Expenditures as well as Cash on Hand as of June 30^th.

Northern Middlesex Registry of Deeds

This region has three candidates running to replace the retiring Richard Howe Jr. These candidates include Karen Cassella, Sokhary Chau and Joseph Ready.  Since three candidates are running in this race, there will be a primary election in September for this seat.

Karen Cassella

Campaign Treasurer: Morgan J. Cassella
2024 Starting Balance: $887.17
JAN-JUN Contributions: $23,120.80
JAN-JUN Expenditures: $6,957.73
June 30 2024 Cash Balance: $17,050.24

Total Funds Raised: $23,120.80 (January 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024)

• Individual Contributions from Lowell: $14,926 (151 Unique People)
• Individual Contributions Outside Lowell: $6,945 (84 Unique People)
• Unitemized Contributions: $0
• Union/Committee Contributions: $1,250
• Candidate Loans: $0
• Number of Individual Contributors of $250 or Greater: 12
• Average Individual Contribution: $93

Sokhary Chau

Campaign Treasurer: Steven Shorrock
2024 Starting Balance: $44,659.95
JAN-JUN Contributions: $33,847.62
JAN-JUN Expenditures: $45,661.96
June 30 2024 Cash Balance: $32,845.61

Total Funds Raised: $33,847.62 (January 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024)

• Individual Contributions from Lowell: $16,282 (150 Unique People)
• Individual Contributions Outside Lowell: $14,166 (79 Unique People)
• Unitemized Contributions: $0
• Union/Committee Contributions: $3,400
• Candidate Loans: $0
• Number of Individual Contributors of $250 or Greater: 30
• Average Individual Contribution: $133

Joseph Ready

Campaign Treasurer: Elisabeth Pantuso
2024 Starting Balance: $0
JAN-JUN Contributions: $22,637.27
JAN-JUN Expenditures: $17,117.36
June 30 2024 Cash Balance: $5,519.91

Total Funds Raised: $22,637.27 (January 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024)

• Individual Contributions from Lowell: $1,792 (19 Unique People)
• Individual Contributions Outside Lowell: $14,945 (85 Unique People)
• Unitemized Contributions: $0
• Union/Committee Contributions: $500
• Candidate Loans: $5,400
• Number of Individual Contributors of $250 or Greater: 23
• Average Individual Contribution: $161

Summary of Registry of Deeds Candidates

Below is a summary of the three candidates’ 1^st Half of 2024 (January through June) Contributions and Expenditures as well as Cash on Hand as of June 30^th.

The upcoming primary is less than two months away on Tuesday, September 3rd.  Candidates in contested races will be looking to raise more funds so their campaign can continue to reach as many voters as possible as we head into the home stretch of the race.  Please do your part and get out to the polls to cast your vote.