by Gerry Nutter
Time once again to brush off the cobwebs and resume writing more frequently.
To those that will welcome me back, thanks. To those wishing I would just stay away, sorry! (Not really)
“We Can Have Nice Things!” Is this a slogan for the 8th grade Class President candidate or a Lowell City Council candidate?
Someone may want to let Eileen DelRossi know that according to the address posted on the Lowell School Department website, she lives in Ward 2, NOT Ward 4 as she said on air this week!
Best wishes for a full recovery to Bob Hoey! Bob and I served on the SC together and disagreed on many things, taking some great back and forth shots during the meetings, yet when the meetings were over, we walked out together, laughing. Bob is also one of the first people into the Salvation Army Radiothon every year with not only his and his family’s donations, but he collects from some of his business friends to help us out.
Hopefully Paulette Renault-Caragianes has a successful knee replacement surgery this fall and considers running again in two years.
Some in Lowell can’t help themselves. Every election has to be about replacing the Manager or setting it up to replace the Manager in two years.
Are Sidney Liang, Sixto DeJesus, Sean McDonough, Francisco Maldonado, Erin Gendron and Belinda Juran really running only to replace Manager Tom Golden? Do many people really believe that there are four current City Councilors (Erik Gitschier, Wayne Jenness, Vesna Nuon and Corey Robinson) ready to be the foundation for a coup in two years?
Sorry, maybe I’m naïve, but I don’t see those four current councilors as being anti-Golden. They are not always in agreement with the Manager, they have clashes and some come across as accusatory and self-righteous, but for the most part they support the administration 80% +/- of the time. In my view (Inside Lowell ownership and management may not agree with my opinions and are not responsible for them in any way), the only challengers who have a realistic shot at winning a seat are Sidney Liang, Erin Gendron and Belinda Juran, and only one between Juran and Gendron would win. In the few times I heard them speak, it never came across that they are against the Manager.
Those who love the rough and tumble political world often connect the names on a candidate’s OCPF filings with certain tribes or supposed political groups; Martin/Gallagher/Donoghue or Vesna/Vanna candidates. What I’ve found in my political life is people support you usually on issues, friendships, family or work connections.
I’ve had support from the Cox/Golden, Martin/Gallagher/Donoghue or Vesna/Vanna groups and have been on the opposite side of all three on many issues, upsetting them all at one time or another. That’s Lowell politics.
The City usually has to have either a big controversial issue or have a manager that’s been here for 3+ years, but the City has to seem stymied before the Council pushes for a change. In our current state, Lowell (again in my opinion) is on the brink of a revitalization that we haven’t seen in decades.
The LINC and Front Runner City programs will revitalize not only the downtown area, but the entire city, touching every neighborhood. Any candidate with even half a clue or understanding of economics would fully support these programs and support the administration.
The pressure is now clearly on the Golden Administration to make these visions a reality, and if in four years Lowell hasn’t seen a MAJOR improvement in process, then it’s time to talk about changing managers. For this race, I don’t see the Manager being an issue, no matter how hard a few people try to make it one.
Until next time, catch me on an InsideLowell Daily Pulse!