August 21, 2022
Two weeks ago, I took advantage of an off week in the summer’s every-other-week city council schedule to write about Lowell politics in the 1990s. Today I’ll do the same for the 1980s. The post is longer than usual, but a lot happened in Lowell in the 1980s. Rather than a straight narrative, the content is a cleaned-up version of notes I kept at the time and have added to through the years.
If you lived in Lowell in the 1980s, this will refresh your memory; if you arrived since then, this will be useful context for today’s politics and will likely invite further questions. If you missed the Lowell in the 1990s post, it’s available here.
January 1980 – Robert Maguire was elected mayor. The nine city councilors were Armand LeMay, Richard Howe, Ed Kennedy, Ray Rourke, Bob Maguire, Brendan Fleming, Sam Pollard, Ray Lord, Tom Casey
November 1980 – In the Presidential election, Ronald Reagan defeated incumbent Jimmy Carter. Locally, incumbent Congressman Jim Shannon, State Senator Phil Shea, and State Representatives Nickolas Lambros, Edward LeLacheur, and Timothy Rourke all won reelection.
May 13, 1981 – To make way for a new access road to the planned downtown hotel, a number of bars, retail establishments and other buildings near the intersection of Central Street and Charles Street were demolished.
October 7, 1981 – Construction begins on the new National Park visitor center on Market Street. The next project will be an associated parking lot on Dutton Street. Estimates are that the new National Park will draw 350,000 visitors to Lowell per year.
November 3, 1981 – City election – Elected to the council were incumbents Richard Howe, Armand LeMay, M. Brendan Fleming, Robert Maguire, George Anthes, and Ed Kennedy and new-comers Gus Coutu, Brian Martin, and Richard O’Malley. Incumbents Raymond Lord and Thomas Casey lost, and Ray Rourke did not run. On the school committee, former school committee member Kathryn Stoklosa joined incumbents Gerald Durkin, Clement McDonough, George O'Hare, Daniel Kane and William Kirwin. (Incumbent school committee member Gus Coutu was elected to the city council). In January, Brendan Fleming was elected mayor.
November 5, 1981 - The Strand Theater on Central Street at the Pawtucket Canal is to be torn down to make way for the new Hilton Hotel.
March 25, 1982 – Lowell School Superintendent Patrick Mogan charges that the School Committee’s rejection of his magnet school plan is blocking integration of Lowell schools.
April 1, 1982 – The state awards $15 million in grants to be used in the construction of the new hotel which is expected to cost $18 million to build. Groundbreaking for the hotel is expected soon.
April 17, 1982 – State Representative Timothy Rourke is killed by a drunk driver in a motor vehicle accident.
November 1982 – In the state election, former Governor Mike Dukakis defeated incumbent Governor Ed King in the Democratic Primary and then defeated Republican John Sears. John Kerry was elected Lieutenant Governor, Frank Bellotti was Attorney General, Robert Crane was Treasurer, John Finnegan was Auditor, and Michael Connolly was Secretary of the Commonwealth. Incumbent US Senator Edward Kennedy and Congressman Jim Shannon were both reelected. Locally, Susan Rourke, the surviving spouse of the late Timothy Rourke, was elected state representative and John Cox defeated incumbent Nickolas Lambros in another state rep district. Incumbent State Senator Phil Shea and State Rep Ed LeLacheur were both reelected.
October 14, 1983 - Wang will construct a training center on the former Rex parking lot on East Merrimack Street. Work will commence in December. With the training center and hotel, there will be a shortage of parking spaces in downtown.
November 1983 – City Election – Re-elected to the city council were incumbents Richard Howe, Armand LeMay, M. Brendan Fleming, Gus Coutu, Brian Martin, Ed Kennedy, and Richard O’Malley. Joining them were newcomers Ray Rourke and Robert Kennedy (who both had previously served on the council). Incumbents Tom Casey (who joined the council midterm when Robert Maguire resigned) and Larry Martin (who joined the council midterm when George Anthes resigned) both lost. For the school committee, newcomers Kathleen Kelley, John Reid and David Allen joined incumbents Kathryn Stoklosa, Gerald Durkin and George O'Hare. Incumbents Daniel Kane and William Kirwin did not run. Incumbent George Kouloheras lost (he had joined the committee when Clement McDonough died). In January, Brian Martin was elected mayor.
January 13, 1984 – Incumbent U.S. Senator Paul Tsongas announces that he will not seek reelection because he has been diagnosed with cancer and wants to spend more time with his family while receiving treatment.
November 1984 – In the Presidential election, incumbent Ronald Reagan defeated Walter Mondale. In the race for the U.S. Senate seat held by Paul Tsongas. Democrat John Kerry defeated Republican Ray Shamie. In the Democratic Primary, Kerry had defeated Congressman Jim Shannon, David Barley, and Secretary of State Michael Connolly. With Jim Shannon running for the U.S. Senate, incumbent state senators Chet Atkins and Phil Shea sought the Congressional seat with Atkins winning. Paul Sheehy won the State Senate seat that was held by Shea. Incumbent state representatives John Cox, Ed LeLacheur and Susan Rourke were all reelected.
March 17, 1985 – As a follow up to efforts to open an adult bookstore on Central Street in downtown, the Lowell Sun runs a multipart series on the involvement of organized crime in gambling and pornography in Greater Lowell.
October 10, 1985 – The city swaps a parcel of city owned land on outer Westford Street for a nearby parcel owned by Wilmington Ford to facilitate the construction of a “trash to energy” incinerator on the site of the former city dump.
November 5, 1985 – City Election – Reelected to the council were Brian Martin, Richard Howe, M. Brendan Fleming, Armand LeMay, Gus Coutu, Raymond Rourke, Robert Kennedy, and Richard O’Malley. School committee member Kathleen Kelley was elected to the council. Incumbent councilor Ed Kennedy lost. On the school committee, incumbents Kathryn Stoklosa, Gerald Durkin, David Allen, George O’Hare, and George Kouloheras (who joined the committee when John Reid resigned) were joined by newcomer Regina Faticanti. In January, Robert Kennedy was elected mayor.
November 24, 1985 – Paul Tsongas leads an effort to get Emerson College to move from Boston to Lowell.
January 16, 1986 - City Council voted to begin the process of constructing a trash to energy incinerator in the outer Highlands on the city landfill.
February 6, 1986 – The city of Lowell faces a $7 million budget deficit. Paul Tsongas says “the city became the victim of its own success.”
April 18, 1986 – The city of Lowell agrees to pay court costs to settle the lawsuit brought by the individual who wanted to open an adult bookstore in downtown who claimed the city wrongfully prevented him from doing that.
May 8, 1986 – Plans to renovate the Old City Hall building on Merrimack Street include the demolition of two adjacent buildings to provide onsite parking for the development.
June 11, 1986 – Work begins on the Sampson Connector which is the redesign of the Thorndike and Dutton intersection from the Lowell Connector to Merrimack Street.
June 13, 1986 – “City Hall shaken by grand jury probe. Rumors of a federal investigation have been around for months, but first hard evidence emerged this week when the city traffic engineer and records of Board of Appeals and License Commission were subpoenaed by a federal grand jury.” The investigation involved the approval process for several new apartment complexes.
Sept 4, 1986 - “Proposed trash-to-energy plant generates concerns” and “Neighbors grill officials on trash plant’s effects” - “tempers flared and skepticism was thinly disguised last night when state officials and environmental consultants met with residents for the first time regarding a proposed 1500 ton per day trash to energy plant by American Ref-Fuel, Inc.” The meeting took place at Smith Baker Center.
September 8, 1986 - Lowell has become a haven for refugees from Southeast Asia.
November 1986 – State Election – Incumbent Governor Mike Dukakis was reelected. Jim Shannon was elected attorney general (Frank Bellotti did not run). Joe DeNucci was elected state auditor (John Finnegan did not run). State Senator Paul Sheehy and State Reps John Cox, Ed LeLacheur, and Susan Rourke were all reelected.
December 29, 1986 - Tully confirms he’s ready to leave office. Says he will leave as soon as he finalizes his purchase of a New Hampshire real estate firm which he expect to happen by Jan 1, 1987.
December 31, 1986 – The city council endorsed a proposed memorial to Jack Kerouac by a 7 to 1 vote.
January 7, 1987 – Assistant City Manager Jim Campbell elected city manager with votes from Mayor Robert Kennedy and Councilors Brian Martin, Armand LeMay, Richard O’Malley, and Ray Rourke. Voting for Michael McLaughlin were Edmond “Gus” Coutu, M. Brendan Fleming, and Kathleen Kelley. Richard Howe voted for city clerk William Busby.
January 13, 1987 - City land swap with Wilmington Ford under scrutiny by grand jury
February 9, 1987 - State police seek evidence of racketeering, corruption. State police searched the 26 Carroll Parkway home of Jackie McDermott and served several grand jury subpoenas yesterday as part of a probe that began looking at organized crime but has expanded to include political corruption. City Councilor Gus Coutu was one of the people subpoenaed. Coutu says he’s not a target of the probe.
March 7, 1987 – George Kouloheras sparks racial clash at meeting. Vote on portable classroom proposal sparks fears of segregation and draws fire from minority communities.
March 26, 1987 - School Committee turns down desegregation plan.
April 4, 1987 – The family dispute over ownership of the Lowell Sun ended when John Costello bought out his brother Clement. John Costello and his family now have complete control of the newspaper.
May 16, 1987 – Boston Globe story “Lowell students learn bitter lessons: YMCA and Boys Club are ‘classrooms’ to 160 minorities.”
May 20, 1987 - Council rejects incinerator plan. “The City Council last night completed one of its most remarkable political turnarounds when it unanimously rejected a proposal to build a massive trash-to-energy incinerator in the Highlands.”
May 20, 1987 – Boston Globe story by Kevin Cullen: 19 are charged in gambling probe; next target in Lowell said to be corruption.
May 28, 1987 - Suit vowed: Hispanic parents plan challenge in court to school committee vote (SC voted 4-3 to rent portable classrooms rather than adopt Central Enrollment).
June 6, 1987 - Desegregation: State gives Lowell stern warning on schools
June 7, 1987 – City announces $60 million plan to renovate the Massachusetts Mills for housing.
June 11, 1987 – School Committee members admit they were slow to see crowding problems. George O’Hare switches his vote which lets the central enrollment desegregation plan pass by a 4 to 3 vote. Parents urge swift desegregation of the schools.
September 24, 1987 – “School bus chaos angers parents. Officials try to correct bus system.”
October 24, 1987 – The Boston Herald begins a multipart investigative series on Lowell called “The Bookie Tapes: Dirty dealings in Lowell, gamblers tied to bid for city office.”
October 25, 1987 – From the Lowell Sun: New revelations rock Lowell political world “Reputed organized crime figure Jackie McDermott created a network of friends in high places that has come to ensnare them all in a series of explosive revelations that are rocking a city already torn apart by months of controversy.”
October 25, 1987 – New York Times story: “Killing and School Plan Stir Tensions in Lowell.”
October 26, 1987 – Lowell Sun: “New bombs set stage for explosive election” by Robert Gavin. “The explosive revelations that a reputed mobster was involved in local politics and the police department have set the stage for a wild finish in what most election watchers are calling the toughest and dirtiest campaign in recent memory.”
October 26, 1987 - Former Red Sox star pitcher Luis Tiant was among the celebrities and political figures riding Lowell school buses today in an effort to mobilize public support for the centralized enrollment plan being used to desegregate Lowell Schools.
October 27, 1987 - McDermott FBI Informant - Jackie McDermott, the 57-year old head of Lowell’s underworld and the center of one of Lowell’s biggest political scandals, was an informant for the FBI and several other police agencies and tried to use these contacts to his advantage.
November 3, 1987 – City election. Incumbents Richard Howe, Brian Martin, Robert Kennedy, M. Brendan Fleming and newcomers Tarsy Poulios, Joseph Fitzpatrick, Bud Caulfield, Gerald Durkin and Curtis LeMay were elected to the city council. Incumbents Kathleen Kelley, Ed Kennedy and Gus Coutu lost. On the school committee, incumbents George Kouloheras, Kathryn Stoklosa and Regina Faticanti and newcomers Kathleen Janas, Mary Anna Sullivan, and Sean Sullivan were elected. Incumbents George O’Hare lost; Gerald Durkin was elected to the city council; and Dave Allen ran for the city council but lost. In January, Richard Howe was elected mayor.
November 19, 1987 - Time magazine features Lowell’s renaissance (Market Mills, Wang training center, hotel, National Park).
November 24, 1987 – Lowell Sun – “Feds intensify city probe” - More subpoenas served on city hall including records of 1985 land swap between the city and the Ristuccia family, owners of Drum Hill Ford on Westford St.
November 30, 1987 - Newsweek - The dark side of a dream: All is not well in Lowell -- A second look at an economic ‘miracle’
February 14, 1988 – Lowell Sun Column - Justice Department taking close look at Lowell schools
June 8, 1988 – Kouloheras says “Minority parents’ lawyer should be ‘tarred, feathered’ Police called as Lowell school committeeman rushes at mayor, who called him ‘mental midget.’”
July 14, 1988 - “Board votes to hunt for new school boss” - Kouloheras said “I can see Mr. Tsongas flying over like Dracula enveloping the school system in his arms and saying ‘I’ve got it all now,’” Kouloheras declared, batting his arms in a swooping gesture. “She (Mary Anna Sullivan) is his messenger.”
August 10, 1988 - Feds make no promises to help school budget - Mayor Howe and City Manager Campbell traveled to Washington to meet with US Senators Edward Kennedy and John Kerry, and Congressman Chet Atkins. Howe asked for $1.9 million in federal funds to meet an expected $4 million deficit in the school budget.
August 24, 1988 - Why they’re here: A look at the political upheaval that led 13,000 Cambodian refugees into Lowell (first of 3 part series by Theodore Doolittle)
September 2, 1988 – Former City Manager Tully indicted over land swap.
November 1988 – State Election – George H. W. Bush defeated Michael Dukakis to become President. Ted Kennedy defeated Joe Malone to be reelected to the U.S. Senate. Paul Sheehy, John Cox, Ed LeLacheur and Sue Rourke were all reelected to the state legislature.
November 16, 1988 – City of Lowell signs consent decree settling suit brought by Hispanic parents.
August 14, 1989 - Refugee wave swells city’s Asian population
August 28, 1989 – Boston Globe - Bella English column – “Step right up for sideshow” (Kouloheras criticizes Mary Anna Sullivan for not taking spouse’s last name).
October 26, 1989 - School committee endorses referendum question on English as the official language. Voting for it were Kathleen Janas, George Kouloheras, Kathryn Stoklosa, and Sean Sullivan. Voting against were Mayor Richard Howe, Mary Anna Sullivan and Regina Faticanti.
October 31, 1989 – Lowell Sun editorial “Vote No: ‘English only’ is a divisive, expensive, unnecessary proposition”
November 5, 1989 - Referendum divides the field - Candidates for council favor English by 10 to 6 - School board candidates favor English by 8 to 4.
November 7, 1989 – City Election – Incumbents Tarsy Poulios, Richard Howe, Bud Caulfield, Kathleen Kelley, M. Brendan Fleming, Curtis LeMay, Robert Kennedy, and Gerald Durkin and former city councilor Ray Rourke were elected to the council. Joe Fitzpatrick did not seek reelection. On the school committee, incumbents Regina Faticanti, Kathleen Janas, George Kouloheras, and Mary Anna Sullivan, and newcomers Raymond Riddick and Steve Panagiotakos were elected. Incumbents Kathry Stoklosa and Sean Sullivan lost. In January, Richard Howe was elected to another term as mayor.
Lowell voters endorsed the English as Lowell's official language referendum by a 3-1 margin.
January 25, 1990 - Wall Street Journal - No Miracle: Recession haunts city that believed it was saved by high-tech --- Lowell, Mass computer ills trigger slumps in fields from real estate to bars.
February 23, 1990 - Area economy stands to lose millions if Hilton closes doors: Two major conventions put long-term deal on hold due to Hilton’s shaky status. Councilors not sold on new Hilton deal.
February 29, 1990 - Council KO’s Hilton deal again: Rourke: A ‘gut feeling’ made me change my mind. (vote to forgive $2.7mil city loan needed six votes. Voting for it were Howe, LeMay, Kelley, Caulfield, Durkin. Voting against were Poulios, Fleming, Robert Kennedy, Ray Rourke).
May 18, 1990 - Federal Money: City gets $500G to educate refugees.
November 1990 – State Election – William Weld defeated John Silber to be elected Governor. For State Treasurer, Joe Malone defeated William Galvin. (Incumbent Bob Crane did not run). In the State Senate, Nancy Achin Sullivan defeated incumbent Paul Sheehy. John Cox, Ed LeLachuer, and Susan Rourke were all reelected state representatives.
March 7, 1991 - Paul Tsongas launches ‘long-shot’ bid for president.
July 30, 1991 - Jobless rate in Lowell hits 15-year high.
September 22, 1991 – City Manager Jim Campbell resigned to lead the state’s Industrial Accident Board.
November 1991 – City Election – Incumbents Tarsy Poulios, Bud Caulfield, Richard Howe, Gerald Durkin, Robert Kennedy, and Curtis LeMay and newcomer Bernie Lemoine and former councilor Richard O’Malley were elected to the council. M. Brendan Fleming did not run and Ray Rourke lost. On the school committee, incumbents George Kouloheras, Steve Panagiotakos, Ray Riddick, Kathryn Stoklosa, & Regina Faticanti were joined by newcomer (and former school superintendent) Henry Mroz. School committee incumbent Mary Anna Sullivan did not seek re-election. In January, Tarsy Poulios was elected mayor.
November 26, 1991 - Former Taunton Mayor Richard Johnson was elected city manager on November 26, 1991 after 41 ballots. The manager's election had evolved into a 3-3-3 vote deadlock between Phil Shea (Poulios, Durkin, Rourke), Jim Milinazzo (Howe, Caulfield, LeMay) and Johnson (Kennedy, Fleming, Kelley). On the 41st ballot, Howe, Caulfield and LeMay switched to Johnson, giving him six votes and the manager's job.
March 19, 1992 - Tsongas bows out: Says his campaign lacked money to compete in NY
November 1992 – Presidential Election – Bill Clinton defeated incumbent George H W Bush for President. Marty Meehan defeated incumbent Congressman Chet Atkins. In the state senate, incumbent Nancy Achin Sullivan announced the day before the signature deadline that she would not run. Dan Leahy was elected to replace her after defeating Phil Shea, Frank Gorman, and Buddy Flynn in the Democratic Primary, and Mary Burns in the general election. For state representative, John Cox and Ed LeLacheur were reelected, but incumbent Susan Rourke was defeated by school committee member Steve Panagiotakos.
May 5, 1993 - City Council votes to retain stop signs along Clark Road - Law department ruled that some of them are illegal but councilors still voted to leave them up. Competing groups of residents are for or against the signs
October 3, 1993 - “Cable and the council: TV meetings spur many challengers to run” . . . the cable television broadcasts of City Council meetings that started last year have made many residents more aware of their city government, and that could spell trouble for at least a few current councilors in Tuesday’s preliminary City Council election. ‘The emperor has no clothes,’ more than one challenger has said in describing how residents view the council, now that they can actually see it in action.”