Elliott vs Howard? So far, State Rep. Rodney Elliott is the only declared candidate for State Senate, but there is a constant buzz that Rep. Vanna Howard will announce soon.
I pointed out to a long-time political observer that being a little more conservative might be an advantage for Rep. Elliott, but she reminded me that this is a DEMOCRATIC primary and, in her view, Dracut especially has become less conservative with more young families.
My discussions with other Democrats have also made it pretty clear that his family’s past social media posts would be brought up again during the campaign by those who support the more progressive Howard’s candidacy.
I took a look at some of the most publicized bills and issues the House has faced over the past 2 years and the position of each Representative on these issues to see if there was a big difference in how they voted.
The Healthy Youth Act – Bill S.2686
The Healthy Youth Act in MA focuses on ensuring that students receive comprehensive, medically accurate, and age-appropriate sex education from Kindergarten through Grade 12. The Senate passed a version of this, but the House has not taken a formal vote. Rep. Vanna Howard Co -Sponsored the bill. My search results did not contain specific information on Rep. Elliott’s position.
An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws (H.4885). This bill was signed into law by Governor Maura Healey on July 25, 2024. Both Rep Howard and Rep Elliott voted for this bill.
Affordable Homes Act (H.4977) passed in August 2024, which permits ADUs by right in single-family zones throughout the state. Rep. Howard supported, Representative Elliott opposed. Rep. Elliott attempted to add an amendment to the state bill that would have allowed for more local control over ADUs. That amendment failed. In a statement to the Chelmsford Select Board in June 2024, Elliott said, “There should be local jurisdiction, local oversight for these types of decisions in neighborhoods”.
Eliminating MCAS as a Graduation Requirement: Rep. Howard Sponsored legislation in the 2023–2024 legislative session, House Bill H.488, which sought to eliminate the use of MCAS as a graduation requirement. Again, my search results did not contain specific information on Rep. Elliott’s position.
Overdose prevention centers aka Supervised Injection Sites: The House has not voted on this. Rep. Howard has co-sponsored Bill S.1242, which seeks to establish a 10-year pilot program for OPCs in Massachusetts. The bill creates a legal and regulatory framework for municipalities that choose to open these sites. Rep. Elliott has publicly reiterated his opposition to OPCs, arguing that the focus should be on stricter enforcement and traditional recovery methods.
Question 1 on the 2024 ballot, which gave the State Auditor the Authority to Audit the Legislature:
Rep. Howard co-sponsored a bill in 2023, with State Auditor Diana DiZoglio, that would have expanded the Auditor’s authority to investigate the legislature. However, a 2025 vote on an amendment concerning the same issue shows Howard later voted against it. Howard’s opposition to the 2025 amendment aligns her with the legislative leadership that has been fighting to block the audit.
Rep. Elliott supported Auditor DiZoglio’s push for the audit, which began in March 2023, but like Rep. Howard, has voted with the legislative leadership that has been fighting to block the audit.
FOLLOW THE LEADER: According to Beacon Hill Roll Call in the SUN (Beacon Hill Roll Call: Tracking House party-line voting – Lowell Sun), BOTH Rep. Howard and Elliott voted 100% of the time in SUPPORT OF THEIR PARTY’S LEADERSHIP IN 2025, THROUGH SEPT. 5.
Who’s More Progressive? scorecard.progressivemass.com/all-legislators/
The Progressive MASS Report Card gave Rep Howard an A- on her Progressive Votes (2023-2024). Rep Howard cosponsored 15 progressive bills out of 22 featured by Prog. Mass for 2025-2026.
Rep Elliott received a B- on his progressive votes (2023-2024). Rep Elliott cosponsored 9 progressive bills out of 22 featured by Prog. Mass for 2025-2026.
Misc. notes: It was nice to see City Councilors Scott, Gitschier and Jenness, along with Mayor Rourke and School Committee members Doherty, Bahou and Lay at the Superintendent’s State of the Schools event.
Superintendent Liam Skinner did a nice job explaining the work the department is doing to help teachers and students and pointing out that the positive test results and the removal of schools from at risk status is a credit to the teachers, support staff and school administrators first along with the administration and school committee’s direction.
SC member Dave Conway stopped by, but could not stay for the entire event. He stayed long enough to make note of the wide range of attendees, the wonderful spread of food offered at the event and to chat with former SC member Andy Decouteaux. It was great to see him making the effort to attend and show his support for Supt. Skinner. SC Challengers Danielle McFadden and Sherri Barboza were also in attendance.
I had the chance to talk briefly with Sherri. Wish she had run just for SC. Her heart’s in the schools and with kids. She would be a plus for students.
Appealing to the Naysayers for Votes: It’s Election Season and when former Council Candidate Erin Gendron questions the transparency of the Front Runner City expenses, even after it was pointed out that the ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL VOTED 11-0 on a $750,000 Line Item (see exhibit 1 below), it got more negative people to question expenditures.
Councilor Gitschier had to put forward this motion on this week’s Council Agenda: C. Gitschier – Req. City Mgr. provide the City Council with a detailed report on all expenditures for the Frontrunner City, including the program, travel and any other expenses.
No questions on detailed expenditures on the $5 Mil for DPW Facilities repair or the $2 Mil for monies spent on the LMA Building Improvements?
I guess a Belvidere resident needs to ask those questions to get that on the agenda? Why ask now and not before an unsuccessful candidate does and gets those negative supporters to respond?
Oh, election day is less than two weeks away and every vote counts.
BTW I’m betting less than half of the $750,000 Line Item voted on in February has been used to date on the FRC program.
History Lesson: Back in July of 2000, the Lowell City Council voted to approve a Home Rule Petition allowing newly elected Councilor Rithy Uong to collect both his School Dept. salary and his Council stipend. (see exhibits 2 & 3 below)
I think a SC member who worked for the City was also able to collect both, because no one questioned it back then.
Since then, no one has offered to do a Home Rule Petition for either Mike Dillon or Erik Gitschier, though unlike Dillon, Gitschier has never to my knowledge publicly asked.
Knowing Erik, I don’t think he would ever ask publicly, and I doubt a majority of the Council would ever support it!
The times certainly have changed.
BTW: Even though Councilor Gitschier sometimes irritates the hell out of me, as former Councilor Bill Martin once said about me; “is there anyone more comfortable in their own skin?” meaning he is exactly like he is and he’s comfortable and confident in being himself.
EXHIBIT 1
EXHIBIT 2
EXHIBIT 3
