Paulette Renault-Caragianes, an active member of the community and a 2003 candidate under the old at-large system, is entering the race for District 2 City Council.

Renault-Caragianes confirmed the news in a phone call this afternoon, stating she’s always been civically active and now that she’s semi-retired, has more time to devote to campaigning and serving if elected.

“We’re still in the infancy for district representation,” Renault-Caragianes said. “It’s time to look at things a little differently and dig into the day to day quality of life issues in Centralville and all parts of the city”

A Part-Time Case Manager in UMass Lowell’s Office of Prevention and Education, she previously served as the Director of Public Health for the City of Somerville, Director of Adolescent Programs at Lowell Community Health Center, Director of Human Services for the City of Lowell, as well as working as a registered nurse specializing in Maternal Child Health. She cited public health and fiscal oversight as motivating factors in her decision to run.

“What tipped the scales was the fact that two-of-three Public Health Nurses were defunded in the budget, and I feel if that had happened in any other department, it wouldn’t have stood,” Renault-Caragianes added. “There’s clearly no one that understands the scope of public health and having only one nurse.”

Renault-Caragianes stated bridge traffic is a also major concern and challenge for the active neighborhood business district.

“There will always be traffic at the bridges, especially on Bridge Street, but I’m not convinced we can’t look at things differently,” she said.

Along with her academic year work at UMass Lowell, Renault-Caragianes serves on the board at the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association (CMAA) and the Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership. She retired as the Associate Dean for Student Health and Wellness at UML early last July.

Her husband Charles served on the City Council during the 1992-93 term, stepping in to fill the slot of a departing member, though he did not seek re-election in 1993.

Renault-Caragianes is currently the only declared challenger to two-term District 2 incumbent Corey Robinson, who is seeking re-election to the seat he first one in 2021, the first election under the city’s new election system. She publicly supported Robinson in the 2021 race.