Continuity – “The unbroken and consistent existence or operation of something over a period of time”
Based on the Interview here on InsideLowell with Marc Kealey, Urban Economy Forum Senior Advisory Board Member and a member of the Front Runner City Forum, Continuity should be the key word that EVERY member of the City Council uses when running for re-election.
Mr. Kealey mentions on a couple of occasions in the interview how important the Urban Forum thinks continuity in the government of Lowell will be in launching the Frontrunner City program. He mentions the strong will of this Council in taking the votes and time to learn about the program and all supporting the program, and how he hopes they ALL continue in office and oversee the launch and fruit of their vision.
If I am Paul Ratha Yem, John Decouteaux, Wayne Jenness and Kim Scott, I am using the Frontrunner City program as my number one citywide accomplishment and explaining how this can help my district. The same is true for the at-large Councilors, Rita Mercier, Vesna Nuon and Erik Gitschier, on how this is the economic cornerstone in the redevelopment of our city.
I was glad to hear yesterday on Saturday Morning Live with Warren Shaw that Mayor Rourke would like to continue as Mayor for another term in order to continue to see and help guide the launch of the Frontrunner City Program.
If you listen to Mr. Kealey, he said it was Mayor Rourke’s willingness to not only participate in the Economic Forum, but to be bold and assertive enough to seek out the Frontrunner City members and sell them on giving Lowell an opportunity to participate.
Mayor Rourke wouldn’t be the first Mayor to serve consecutive terms. Ricard Howe served in 1988/1989 and 1990/1991, as did Eileen Donoghue in 1998/1999 and 2000/2001.
“Left in Lowell” – No, Lynne Lupien isn’t relaunching her Blog, but if you look at the election results, Lowell and the small turnout who voted went Left on Tuesday.
If you listened at all to the candidate forums here on InsideLowell, WCAP with Marty Lorrey and Joe Espinola or LTC, then you know that Marcos Candido is a very Progressive candidate, as is Sidney Liang. You have to give them, along with the Lowell Democratic City Committee, credit for getting their people out to vote. In Candido’s case, shocking many of us who think we understand Lowell Politics.
Congratulations to both gentlemen.
Half Right! Those of us who again “think” we know Lowell politics were equally surprised at the poor showing of Erin Gendron in Belvidere.
Erin had a recognizable name, solid resume and by all accounts ran a strong campaign. The question is why didn’t she click with voters?
Did Dan Finn’s sports association, large, well-known family and the most popular Campaign companion (his daughter) on the trail just overtake her family name?
Many though he would take votes from Corey Belanger, but it seems he also took them from Erin, especially those in the 35-45 age group with children.
Despite Belinda Juran’s 87 vote lead, there are now 622 votes from the other two challengers, plus those who skipped the preliminary, available. So in my view, this is council race is up for grabs!
At Risk? Based on the small turnout and the fact that Sidney Liang beat Paul Ratha Yem by 43-votes while Paul beat Jose Cervantes by only 21 votes, is Paul in trouble?
Paul has a couple of former opponents working for Sidney, along with the former leader of CBA Yun-Ju Choi (who some in the political undercurrent are trying to tout as the next City Manager).
While Paul has done a ton of work for Veterans, his district, to my knowledge, doesn’t have a large veteran population. How much support he gets from Jose Cervantes and what that support means is unknown, but a positive for Paul.
In my view, Paul needs to push the successful development in the Acre, the Frontrunner City program and his experience as Vice Mayor. He also needs to support Mayor Rourke’s bid for another term and force his opponent to take a public stand on that issue.
Knocked Down but NOT Counted Out! Longtime Team Mickey Ward member John Descoteaux got knocked down Tuesday by Marcos Candido, but it wasn’t and won’t be a TKO. He’ll have to do some heavy door knocking and reminding people of his success serving his district, but it was only a knock down, not a Knockout!
Would Have, Should Have, but OOPS! You have to respect anyone who runs for office, especially those who put their money where their mouth is (so to speak). However, a candidate would have to know, or should know, MGL Chapter 55, the campaign finance law.
It states among many things that “there is no limit on how much a candidate may contribute or loan to his or her own campaign.”
The big difference is if you “loan” your campaign money, after the race is complete, you can “repay” yourself some of that money loaned. If you contribute it, you cannot reimburse yourself.
Francisco Maldonado “contributed” $20,000 of his own money to his campaign. His OCPF filing at the end of August had $9,977.54 cash on hand. Even if he spent another $1,977.54 in September, he would still have $8,000 that he could have repaid himself. Instead, he has a very solid foundation for another run in 2 years or the ability to help a lot of deserving organizations with some nice donations.
OUT WITH THE OLD! Or Elections have Consequences: Middlesex Community College announced eight new Trustees that caught some people off guard and commenting on what looked like an ouster of “old Lowell’ for “Progressive Lowell”.
Once their term of service is up, a trustee serves until replaced or re-appointed. They can be reappointed for one more term, but that is all per MGL which states “members shall be appointed to serve for five-year terms, but no member shall be appointed for more than two consecutive terms”
Jim Campbell, Annie O’Connor and Bopha Malone served since 2015, Brian Chapman since 2021, Jim Campanini since 2019. All were appointed by a Republican Governor.
The New Board, seemingly appointed by a Democratic Governor (allegedly according to some, with major input from the districts State Rep.) includes City Council candidate Sidney L. Liang along with his Campaign Treasurer; Yun-Ju Choi, retired LHS House Dean Maria A. Vejar-Mason and Vladimir L. Saldaña, who no matter what he does, from working for Congresswomen Lori Trahan to currently working has a Commercial Real Estate Agent and Property Manager for The Edge Group, will always be remembered for being one of the plaintiffs in the Huot et al v. City of Lowell et al that changed the way Lowell elects its City Councilors and School Committee members.
