Category Archives: Elections

CITY COUNCIL ELECTION TIME IS NEAR…

Posted on July 2, 2009 by ldna | Leave a comment

FAIR VOTE LOWELL
Fair Vote Lowell is an initiative to increase voter participation, open up opportunities for new candidates, and create local elective bodies that are representative of all residents in Lowell, Massachusetts.Our mission is simple: We’re here to transform Lowell’s voting system for local elections of city councilors and school committee from the current “Winner take All” system to “Choice Voting”, a system that is fair and promotes greater representation for all.We invite you to explore our site and join us in transforming our voting system in Lowell. http://www.fairvotelowell.org/

What is Choice Voting? Choice voting is a type of proportional representation that works on the principle that all voters have a right to someone they support. With Choice voting, the majority still receives a majority of the representation, but some seats are available to other voters, so that all voters can be fairly represented. To vote, voters rank the candidates in order of preference. If your top choice loses, your vote goes to your next preferred candidate. After a choice voting election, each elected candidate represents a distinct and equal-sized group of like-minded voters.

I have the petition…please let me know if you have not had an opportunity to sign one.
KMM

Dick Howe takes a historical look at Lowell’s previous use of “Choice Voting” http://richardhowe.com/2009/06/17/is-choice-voting-right-for-lowell/

Candidate web sites to date:
Ryan Berard http://www.ryanberard.com/
Franky Descoteaux http://www.frankyforlowell.com/
Joe Mendonca http://www.mendonca.org/
James Milinazzo http://jimmilinazzo.homestead.com/
Patrick Murphy http://thinkmurphy.com/

Update: I received an email from Ryan Berard;
The First Campaign Fundraiser is scheduled for July 16th at the East End Club from 6-10PM.

City Council Election

Posted on June 14, 2009 by ldna | 2 comments

UPDATE:
Franky’s Campaign Kick-Off Party
Tuesday, June 23rd, 5:30 – 7 PM
at Mambo Grill

In this week’s SUN column Franky Descoteaux says she is running for city council.
I say; “YEAH!”

Finally a city council candidate that we can actually get excited about. Franky is:
Smart – let’s face it, brains matter…especially when it comes to making decisions that effect an entire city.
Reasonable – Franky’s statements have always taken into consideration other peoples thoughts and ideas and she has a great perspective as a resident and business owner.
Hard-working- in another SUN article Franky was quoted as saying, “downtown business owners need to work harder at drawing business from other areas of the city”.
We all notice that her businesses are not open 9-5, instead they are open hours that are more likely to attract more customers. I can not think of anyone who would better represent residents of the city.

“THERE’S A new potential candidate in this fall’s election for Lowell City Council. She’s a woman. She’s a wife. She’s a mother. And she owns, or partially owns, a downtown business mini-empire.
Guessed who it is?
It’s Franky Descoteaux.
“I haven’t made an official announcement, but I’m running,” she said. “I want to be part of the continued growth of Lowell as a member of the City Council.”
Descoteaux, a popular downtown figure, owns the Mambo Grill and Humanity, a women’s boutique. She is half-owner of Monkey’s, with Brew’d Awakening owner Andy Jacobson, another active Lowell resident/business owner.
Descoteaux said she won’t be bashful in voicing her opinion, and she added that she isn’t running against any of the current councilors.
“I’ll always have an opinion,” she said. “I feel that the best progress is always made when people cooperate and understand all sides of the issues.”

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Posted in City Council, Downtown Lowell, Elections

LDNA Meeting

Posted on April 27, 2009 by ldna | Leave a comment

Updates from meeting:

Monday, April 27th, 7PM

Agenda
Elaina Bates, Revolving Museum Events
Two upcoming events
May 2nd 7:30 – 9PM “The Body Talks”. Choreography and conversation with dancers and artists from the Donna Miceli Dancer Center
May 9th, 6 – 10 PM, “The Full Moon Celebration” at Harmony Park (corner of Cross & Cork Sts.). TRM stll needs volunteers for this event. More info at:
www.revolvingmuseum.org

Victoria Fahlberg, ONE Lowell, Voter Participation
Get more information about the initiative for a proportional voting system in Lowell
www.fairvotelowell.org

Allegra Williams, Homelessness Awareness Events
May 23rd, 7 – 10 PM, “Street Beat”, Homeless Benefit Concert at The Revolving Museum.
There will also be an art sale by homeless artists and a “Camp-Out” at St. Anne’s Church.
Open Discussion
Saturday, May 2nd, 9AM – Mack Plaza, City-wide Clean-up. Volunteers needed for downtown.
9 AM – 1 PM – City Hazardous Waster disposal at Cawley Stadium, more at:
www.lowellma.gov/depts.recycle

Daryl from Blue Shamrock announce a new Friday night concert series in their upstairs lounge “Gemstones” which will kick off this Friday with “Hot Day At The Zoo” performing.
www.emeraldcitypro.com