We are still two weeks away from the 2024 state and federal elections, but here in the Mill City, eyes are already turning toward next November.

We had already been picking up chatter for weeks about candidates running in Lowell’s City 2025 Council and School Committee races, chatter that involves some well known individuals in the community. And just last week, a political newcomer, became the first challenger to officially register a campaign account with Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance.

Ricky Thach tells InsideLowell he launched his campaign because he believes “there’s an interest in having fresh, young faces help with the city’s development and with tackling issues at City Hall.”

The Bertha Street resident plans to run for one of the three At-Large Council seats.

Thach was born in Cambodia, immigrating to America with his mother as a three year old in 2008.The 19-year old is a product of the Lowell Public Schools system, attending the Murkland Elementary and Stoklosa Middle Schools, before graduating Lowell High this past Spring. While not currently enrolled, he plans on attending college in the future.

“There aren’t many young people taking an interest in local elections and politics, so I’m hoping to inspire them that you can achieve huge goals at a young age,” Thach told us via email over the weekend.

During the campaign, he plans to focus on “the increasing amount of narcotics in the city,” along with drug awareness programs for the city’s youth. He also lists homelessness and affordable housing as priorities, along with addressing vacant storefronts and helping small business “in order to attract more people to live in Lowell rather than stray away from it.”

Thach envisions himself as “a councilor who is willing to address concerns with residents of Lowell, while finding ways to allow more ideas to make Lowell a bustling city with a City Council that cares about improving the city and keeping it as safe as possible.”