Looks like the race for District 3 City Council has another entry, with Belvidere resident Erin Gendron entering the fray.
Gendron officially launched her candidacy this morning via social media. Her campaign website had already gone live prior to the announcement.
The daughter-in-law of former City Councilor and School Committee member, Steve Gendron, was one of nine applicants for the position that became open when John Leahy stepped down from the board to accept a job with Lowell Public Schools last July.
The process to replace the longtime councilor became a hot-button political issue, with many calling for a special election. A majority of the council ultimately opted to appoint a representative, as the City Charter called for at the time, giving the nod to Corey Belanger.
Gendron currently serves on Lowell’s Board of Health, and her website touts over ten years of public service. She’s currently employed in the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations. Prior to that, she spent a decade at the Department of Children and Families (DCF).
“My mission is to create a safer, stronger and more vibrant Lowell by advocating for families, supporting our community’s health, and ensuring that every voice is heard,” Gendron states on her website. “With my background in social work and public service, I am committed to finding practical solutions to the challenges facing the future of our city.”
The latest development means that if all declared candidates pull nomination papers when available and submit the required number of signatures, the politically active district will feature a preliminary election at a yet to be determined date in September.
Belanger is seeking re-election to the seat. The incumbent previously served two terms under the old at large system from 2014-2017.
Belinda Juran confirmed her candidacy to InsideLowell right after the New Year, establishing her campaign with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) at that time.
A fourth candidate, Ronald DiBerto, declared his intention to run in the Fall of 2024 and has been vocal in commenting on our InsideLowell Facebook page about city issues. Though as of this point, he has yet to formally establish his campaign with OCPF.
The Belvidere neighborhood traditionally produces the highest turnout in municipal elections. In 2021, the first year under the Mill City’s new hybrid system which created eight districts, District 3 accounted for nearly 22% of the total votes cast. In the low turnout election of 2023, it accounted for nearly 24% of the voting tally.
In the highly charged 2017 election, which decided the fate of the new Lowell High School, the two wards that made up the heart of what is now the Third District saw an over 55% turnout, a staggering number for a municipal campaign.
