What began as an April Fools joke has turned into a very real conversation.
Lowell City Councilor Corey Robinson, who Wednesday posted on his Facebook page that he was launching a campaign for the 16th Middlesex State Representative seat currently held by Rodney Elliott, is telling people the feedback he received from the intended prank has convinced him to seek the State House slot representing parts of Lowell and Chelmsford.
Contacted this morning, Robinson responded by echoing much of his April 1st social media post as the reason he’s entering the race.
“After serious consideration and discussions with our community as well as my loved ones, I would like to formally announce my intention to run for the upcoming vacancy of State Representative of our 16th Middlesex District,” Robinson texted. For the past four years I have seen firsthand the impacts and unintended consequences of decision making that disregards our communities concerns. My team and I feel it is necessary to bring strong leadership FROM our community, FOR our community to Beacon Hill. Our campaign will be about prioritizing our neighbors and the challenges they face on a daily basis. Our policy ideas will originate in our neighborhoods with the focus on problem solving what matters to our most valuable assets, our residents. #PeopleOverParty”
Meanwhile, the candidate Robinson introduced and enthusiastically supported in that race tells InsideLowell she is staying in the race despite the city councilor’s decision.
Mona Tyree launched her campaign and addressed the crowd at the St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast hosted by Representative Elliott on March 14. It was Robinson who made the announcement that morning and invited her to the podium.
“I am not dropping out and still collecting signatures,” Tyree texted InsideLowell this morning.
When asked if that was still the case after Robinson’s entry, she responded “Yes, this is what democracy looks like. I wish them both well.
The third publicly declared candidate in the race is North Chelmsford’s Lorena Betts, who has been campaigning for the seat since last September, before Elliott’s announcement he would not be seeking re-election.
