While local businessman and public access tv host John McDonough is rumored to be interested in running, a downtown Lowell resident with the same last name is the first candidate to actually jump into the race for District 4 City Councilor.
Sean McDonough, a condo owner at 61 Market Street, filed paperwork with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) this week.
In a conversation with InsideLowell Saturday evening, McDonough said he wasn’t originally planning on a campaign, but decided the time was right after multiple people urged him to run.
“I know too many people my age who are leaving the city,” the soon to be 30-year old father of an 11-month old says. “I wanted people to choose Lowell and I want people to stay in Lowell.”
McDonough grew up in Methuen, but spent a lot of time in Lowell with his grandmother, a resident of the city. He graduated UMass Lowell in 2018 and joined the Peace Corps in 2019, teaching English in Mozambique along with his wife, who taught Portuguese.
Their tour of duty was cut short by Covid, and both eventually found their way to Lowell High School, where Sean teaches Special Ed. He jokes that he would instantly save the city $25,000 if elected, since his municipal job would not allow him to take the council stipend.
When asked what issues the campaign will focus on, McDonough talked about wanting to help develop a clear vision of what Lowell should be, along with parking and quality of life issues in the downtown.
Wayne Jenness, who has held the seat for two-terms, has still not publicly declared whether he will seek re-election.
Last December, Jenness told InsideLowell he hadn’t yet decided, and hasn’t responded to our inquiries about it since. Others “in the know” when it comes to politics in the city, and even some council colleagues we’ve spoken to, have no definitive idea which way he’s leaning. McDonough also told us he doesn’t know, but that he’s “all in” with or without the incumbent in the race.
One way or another, Jenness’ decision will soon become public, along with those of John McDonough and anyone else contemplating a campaign.
Nomination papers are available starting June 10 and candidates have until July 22 to submit the required number of signatures to get their name on the ballot. If three or more candidates enter the District 4 race, a preliminary election would be held on Tuesday September 9, with the top two advancing to the general election on November 4.
Jokingly referred to as “the sausage district,” District 4 encompasses the downtown, Back Central and even goes across the Merrimack River to East Pawtucketville.
