Downtown Lowell is seeing new faces as migrant families arriving at the Inn & Conference Center explore the city. While initial buzz over their arrival has cooled, at least one political candidate seems poised to make immigration a campaign issue.
Karla Miller, a Republican, has announced her candidacy for the 1st Middlesex District state Senate seat, challenging incumbent Ed Kennedy, a longtime Lowell City Council member and former mayor. Kennedy, a Democrat, has held the seat since 2018 and has easily won his races. In a state where 36 of 40 Senate seats are held by Democrats, Miller hopes to become the fifth Republican in the Senate.
In her campaign announcement, Miller criticized “spiraling costs” and “reckless spending,” pointing to a proposed budget that includes $1 billion for “unfettered illegal immigration.” She might need a refresher on immigration law before engaging in debates. The migrants in Lowell and elsewhere in Massachusetts are legally admitted to the U.S. under a humanitarian or public benefit clause by the Department of Homeland Security. Most of them are families fleeing violence in Haiti and Venezuela, and their presence in Lowell is part of a humanitarian effort. Yet, the financial burden might still be a concern for voters who are trying to reconcile compassion with fiscal responsibility.
Elsewhere in Lowell, the race for the 18th Middlesex District state Representative seat is also heating up. Tara Hong is challenging four-term incumbent Rady Mom, having narrowly lost to him in the 2022 Democratic primary by just 68 votes. Andrew Kollar has also announced his interest in running, but rumors suggest Dave Ouellette, a former health code inspector, might join the race as an independent if Hong loses the primary.
The 18th Middlesex District encompasses a large part of Lowell, including the majority-minority Acre neighborhood, where the Cambodian community could play a significant role. Lowell City Councilor Paul Ratha Yem noted that Cambodians are a politically active group, and his own victory in 2021 against Ouellette was evidence of their growing influence. His insights suggest that the Cambodian vote could determine the outcome of future elections in this area.
Meanwhile, the ongoing legal drama involving Tewksbury Select Board member Mark Kratman continues to unfold. Kratman’s trial for an alleged third OUI was delayed yet again, marking nearly five years since his initial arrest. The case has been plagued by multiple delays, and Kratman was absent from public duties for several weeks following an apparent medical episode last year.
In Westford, the recent Town Meeting drew record attendance, but the long session stretched to nearly eight hours, leading to dwindling numbers by the time a contentious article on Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day was considered. A citizen’s petition proposed recognizing both Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the same day, but it was dismissed after significant debate, reflecting ongoing divisions over how to address Columbus’s legacy while acknowledging the history and suffering of Indigenous peoples.
In Chelmsford, the School Committee has reorganized after the election, with Dennis King as the new chair, Maria Santos as vice chair, and newcomer Diana Lebeaux as secretary.
Finally, Tyngsboro is experiencing some turnover in its town government, with Town Planner/Economic Development Director Eric Salerno leaving for a similar role in Bedford, following the departure of Town Manager Matt Hanson last year. Salerno’s work on key projects, including the Toll Brothers’ development and zoning for the MBTA Communities Act, has left a significant mark, and his departure comes just before the annual Town Meeting, where the town will decide on complying with the MBTA Communities Act.
