As a challenger finally emerged late yesterday in the District 2 (Centralville) City Council race, another candidate entered the fray to challenge incumbent Dan Rourke in Pawtucketville.

Emile Kaufman also pulled nomination papers at City Hall, listing City Council District 1 as the office being sought. He becomes the first, and with the deadlines to pull papers (July 14) and submit the required number of signatures (July 18) fast approaching, likely only other candidate taking on the incumbent Councilor from the other side of the Merrimack.

“The City of Lowell is being squeezed by the University that is moving like a blob, usurping venues that were once crown jewels of Lowell,” Kaufman tells InsideLowell. “Further, the decision to move the bus traffic away from downtown many years ago was a boondoggle, since it created decreased foot traffic and an ensuing lack of interest in flagship restaurants and businesses moving there.”

He went on to say that “given the multicultural restaurant look of Lowell, the city should market itself accordingly. Actively promote tour packages to seniors centers and high schools throughout New England. Go bold!”

Although a political newcomer, Kaufman did pitch a few of his ideas and spoke about the homeless issue at the April 25, 2023 Council meeting.

Up until yesterday, Rourke and Corey Robinson did not have an opponent in their respective re-election efforts. With Kaufman’s emergence and that of Marty Hogan in Centralville, that leaves John Leahy in District 3 (Belvidere) as the only unopposed incumbent, with just 5 days remaining to pull nomination papers.