September 4, 2022
With no city council meeting this week due to the summer meeting schedule, today’s newsletter offers the latest installment of my Lowell political notes. Today covers 1970 to 1979. I’ve previously written about 1980 to 1992 and from 1993 to 2000. These articles are compilations of notes I’ve taken through the years and are not comprehensive histories. Still, they do give readers a sense of what politics was like in Lowell during the time covered.
Also, today’s post on richardhowe.com previews this Tuesday’s primary election with some added memories on voting in past elections in Lowell.
But back to 1970 which for our purposes begins with the 1969 city election:
November 4, 1969 - 29,343 voters reelected incumbent city councilors Richard Howe, Ellen Sampson, Armand LeMay, and Samuel Pollard. They were joined by newcomers M. Brendan Fleming, Philip Shea, Paul Tsongas, John Mahoney, and Leo Farley. Incumbents Thomas Crowley, John Cox, Raymond Gilbride, and Mayor Robert Maguire all lost. Incumbent Edward Early did not seek reelection.
School committee incumbents William Collins, George Kouloheras, Clement McDonough, and Victor Forsley were all reelected. They were joined by newcomers Ernest Herrman and Paul Robinson. Incumbent Thomas Sullivan lost. Incumbent Arthur McGlinchey did not run.
Although the school had not yet opened, the office of Greater Lowell Regional School Committee member appeared on the ballot for the first time. Lowell would have four of the eight school committee members, with Dracut having two and Dunstable and Tyngsborough one each. In this election, Lowell would elect two members to four year terms, and two others to two year terms (which would become four year terms at the next election).
Candidates for the four year seat were Clement McDonough, Paul Robinson, F. Foster Porter, Alfred Gladstone, George Kouloheras, and Sally Regan. McDonough, Robinson, Kouloheras, and Regan were nominated in the preliminary. The in the general election, Robinson and McDonough won the two seats with Kouloheras finishing third and Regan fourth.
Candidates for the two year seat were Roger Coutu, John Trant, Peter Coulouras, Francis King, Daniel Kane and George Gath. Kane and Gath won those two seats with King finishing third and Coutu fourth.
Lowell voters also voted to create a commission to recommend changes to the city’s charter. The vote to create the charter commission was 17,078 for and 3,728 against. At the same time, voters selected eighteen individuals to serve on the charter commission.
December 12, 1969 - Dedication of Acre community center planned for Sunday - The Smith Baker Community Center of the Acre Model Neighborhood Organization (AMNO) will be dedicated Sunday, Dec 14th at 5 p.m. in the former First Congregational Church, located across from City Hall on Merrimack St.
January 5, 1970 - Richard Howe was elected mayor on the fifth ballot with the votes of Paul Tsongas, Brendan Fleming, Philip Shea, Leo Farley and himself. Armand Lemay received votes from John Mahoney, Samuel Pollard, and himself. Ellen Sampson voted for herself.
August 10, 1970 - City Manager Charles Gallagher resigned. The council appointed City Auditor Leo Morris to be acting city manager. On September 29, 1970, the council elected James Sullivan, the city manager of Cambridge, to be the new Lowell City Manager. Sullivan received votes from Richard Howe, John Mahoney, Paul Tsongas, Brendan Fleming and Armand LeMay. Councilors Philip Shea, Samuel Pollard, Ellen Sampson, and Leo Farley voted for Morris.
June 9, 1971 – City Council defeats rent control proposal.
November 2, 1971 - More than 30,000 voters reelected incumbents Ellen Sampson, Richard Howe, Philip Shea, Paul Tsongas, Leo Farley, and M. Brendan Fleming. Joining them on the council were former City Manager Charles Gallagher, the chair of the Charter Commission Robert Kennedy, and 21-year old college student Gail Dunfey. Incumbent councilors Armand LeMay, Samuel Pollard and John Mahoney, all lost.
Incumbent school committee members William Collins, Victor Forsley, Ernest Herrman, and Clement McDonough were reelected. They were joined on the school committee by newcomers G. David Flanagan and Joseph Abrams. Incumbents George Kouloheras and Paul Robinson were defeated.
On the Greater Lowell Regional School Board, George Gath and Daniel Kane were reelected to full four year terms. John O’Brien, a submaster at Lowell High School, finished third and George Kouloheras finished fourth. Three other candidates—Francis King, Leonard Sicard, and William Hughes—had been eliminated in the preliminary election.
Voters decisively rejected the Charter Commission’s recommendation that the city shift to a strong mayor form of government with 9,088 voting for the proposal and 22,172 voting against.
January 1972 - Ellen Sampson was elected mayor on the 106th ballot. On inauguration day, Paul Tsongas and Phil Shea were the leading contenders but neither could get the necessary fifth vote. After 15 ballots at the inauguration ceremony, the council voted to recess and resume the voting at the next evening’s regularly scheduled council meeting. During the 51 ballots cast that night, Shea, Tsongas and Councilor Richard P Howe all received four votes on various ballots but none could reach five. Another recess was held and two nights later, after 40 more ballots, Phil Shea announced he was withdrawing his candidacy and would vote for Sampson who was elected on the next ballot.
March 8, 1972, six members of the school committee voted to deny tenure to Superintendent Wayne Peters. Voting against Peters were Mayor Ellen Sampson, Victor Forsley, Ernest Herrman, Joseph Abrams and David Flanagan. The only support for Peters came from William Collins. Assistant Superintendent G. Douglas Sullivan was named acting superintendent and a nationwide search for a new superintendent was launched in May.
On August 2, 1972, the school committee elected Dr. Hugh McDougall, a New York City educator, to be Lowell’s next school superintendent on a six to one vote. Voting for McDougall were Mayor Ellen Sampson and committee members Clement McDonough, Joseph Abrams, William Collins, David Flanagan, and Ernest Herrman. Victor Forsley voted for Dr. Robert Rasmussen of Dover, Delaware.
By the end of 1972, Superintendent McDougall and the school committee were at odds over the Superintendent’s salary, and McDougall indicated he would leave Lowell when his contract expired in August.
January 24, 1973 - William Collins resigned from the school committee citing a busy work schedule. He was replaced by seventh place finisher, Paul Robinson.
January 4, 1973 - Paul Tsongas, who had been elected Middlesex County Commissioner, resigned from the city council. He was replaced by tenth place finisher Armand LeMay.
June 13, 1973 - The school committee elected Lowell Title I director Earl Sharfman superintendent of schools on a four to three vote. Committee members Ernest Herrman, Joseph Abrams, Paul Robinson, and David Flanagan voted for Sharfman. Victor Forsley, Clement McDonough and Mayor Ellen Sampson voted for Patrick Mogan who was then the director of the Lowell Model Cities Program. Sharfman would take over as superintendent on August 27, 1973, the expiration date of McDougall’s contract.
August 15, 1973 - School Committee member G. David Flanagan resigned from the committee effective immediately. He was replaced by eighth-place finisher George Kouloheras.
November 6, 1973 - Voters reelected councilors Charles Gallagher, Richard Howe, Armand LeMay, Leo Farley, and Robert Kennedy. They were joined by former Mayor Robert Maguire, School Committee member Victor Forsley, and newcomers John Slavin and Brian Delaney. Incumbents Gail Dunfey, M. Brendan Fleming, and Mayor Ellen Sampson lost.
On the school committee, only two incumbents, Clement McDonough and George Kouloheras, were reelected. Joining them on the school committee were former school superintendent Wayne Peters, former committee member Kathryn Stoklosa, and newcomers George O’Hare and Patricia Molloy. Incumbents Joseph Abrams and Paul Robinson were defeated. Incumbents Victor Forsley and Ernest Herrman did not seek reelection, with Forsley running (successfully) for city council.
On the regional school committee, newcomer Michael Sullivan, “a 26-year old computer scientist,” topped the ticket. Winning the second seat was incumbent Clement McDonough. Losing were George Kouloheras and Paul Robinson. Five other candidates for regional school committee were eliminated in the preliminary election. They were Daniel Fusconi, Richard Silver, Kenneth Harkins, William Droll, and T. P. O’Rourke.
The 27,791 residents who voted rejected a referendum that would have increased the annual pay for city councilors to $6,000, and the mayor to $7,500. The vote was 18,866 against, and 4,507 for.
January 7, 1974 - Armand LeMay was elected mayor on the first ballot on a five to four vote. Voting for LeMay were Brian Delaney, Richard Howe, Robert Maguire, Robert Kennedy, and LeMay. Voting for Leo Farley were Farley, Victor Forsley, Charles Gallagher, and John Slavin.
March 29, 1974 - City Manager James Sullivan ended his time in Lowell when he was (once again) elected city manager of Cambridge. The council met on Tuesday, April 24, 1974 to elect a new manager but recessed after 50 ballots without electing anyone. Paul Sheehy received votes from Victor Forsley, Leo Farley, Charles Gallagher, and Brian Delaney. Robert Healy had the votes of Richard Howe, John Slavin, and Armand LeMay. Walter Kelliher, the mayor of Malden, received votes from Mayor Robert Maguire and Councilor Robert Kennedy. The council reconvened a week later on April 30, 1974 and on that night’s third ballot, Kennedy switched his vote to Sheehy, giving him five votes and electing him city manager. Sheehy took office on May 3, 1974.
September 5, 1975 - City Manager Paul Sheehy resigned. City Clerk William Busby was named acting city manager. On October 14, 1975, Holyoke Mayor William Taupier was elected Lowell City Manager on a five to four vote with votes from Charles Gallagher, Brian Delaney, Robert Kennedy, Leo Farley, and Victor Forsley. Richard Howe, Robert Maguire, John Slavin and Armand LeMay all voted for Cambridge Assistant City Manager Robert Healy. The council had met twice previously without electing anyone. Gallagher had supported former Manchester NH mayor John Mongan. Other candidates who received votes during the process included Lowell Housing Authority director Armand Mercier, former City Councilor George O’Meara, and Attorney Daniel Leahy. Taupier was sworn in as city manager on October 24, 1975.
November 6, 1975 - Voters reelected incumbent councilors Armand LeMay, Richard Howe, Leo Farley, and Brian Delaney. They were joined by former school superintendent and school committee member Wayne Peters, former city councilors M. Brendan Fleming and Samuel Pollard, and newcomers George Anthes and Donald Scott. Incumbent councilors Robert Maguire, Victor Forsley, Charles Gallagher, and John Slavin all lost. Incumbent Robert Kennedy had been elected state representative the previous year and did not seek reelection to the council.
On the school committee, voters reelected incumbents Kathryn Stoklosa, George Kouloheras, Patricia Molloy, and Clement McDonough. Joining them were newcomers Daniel Kane and William Kirwin. Incumbent George O’Hare lost. Incumbent Wayne Peters was elected to the city council.
On the regional school committee, incumbents George Gath and Daniel Kane were reelected. Finishing third was Nellie Skaff and finishing fourth was Charles Manousos.
December 3, 1975 - Lowell jobless rate drops slightly to 12.3%. No plans to fire 150 city workers, Taupier says. MBTA to abandon Lowell service? (At the time, MBTA provided bus service in Lowell). Jordan’s: no miracles for downtown Lowell (a rep from Jordan Marsh which recently took over the Bon Marche, cautioned that there are “no miracles for an economic revitalization of downtown Lowell”). City to file complaint against Boott Mills for unpaid personal property taxes.
January 5, 1976 - Leo Farley was elected mayor on the third ballot, with the votes of himself, Brian Delaney, Samuel Pollard, M. Brendan Fleming, and Donald Scott (who had voted for himself on the first two ballots and switched to Farley on the third). Richard Howe received votes from himself, George Anthes, Armand LeMay, and Wayne Peters on all three ballots.
In January 1977, the school committee voted not to renew Earl Sharfman’s contract as superintendent. On June 15, 1977, the committee voted unanimously to hire Patrick Mogan as the next Lowell superintendent. Mogan took over on July 1, 1977, the day after Sharfman’s contract ended.
August 12, 1977 - New shopping center under construction on Wood Street between Middlesex Street and Princeton Boulevard.
November 8, 1977 - Despite three inches of rain, nearly 21,000 voters went to the polls and, in one of the closest council races in history, re-elected incumbent councilors Armand LeMay, Richard Howe, Brian Delaney, Samuel Pollard, and Wayne Peters. Also elected were former state representative Raymond Rourke, former mayor and city councilor Robert Maguire, and newcomers Raymond Lord and Edward Kennedy. Incumbents George Anthes, M. Brendan Fleming, and Donald Scott lost. Mayor Leo Farley did not see reelection.
The initial vote tally on election night showed just 12 votes separating Peters, Kennedy, and Anthes in eighth, ninth, and tenth place. A recount confirmed the order of finish, but increased the number of votes separating them.
The school committee also had an extremely close contest. After the election night vote count, newcomer Frank Talty held sixth place, leading newcomer Gerald Durkin by 18 votes. In the recount, Durkin gained a net of 40 votes, giving him the sixth and final seat on the school committee and putting Talty in seventh place, 12 votes behind.
As for the rest of the school committee, incumbents Clement McDonough, Daniel Kane, and William Kirwin were reelected. Joining them were newcomers Robert Wolfgang, George O’Hare, and Durkin. Incumbent George Kouloheras lost. Incumbent Kathryn Stoklosa ran (unsuccessfully) for city council and incumbent Patricia Molloy did not seek reelection.
On the regional school committee, incumbents Clement McDonough and Thomas Sullivan won with Nellie Skaff finishing third and Robert Couillard fourth.
December 9, 1977 – City Manager William Taupier punches State Rep Robert Kennedy in the face. Kennedy says he will seek assault charges.
January 2, 1978 - Raymond Rourke was elected mayor on the third ballot. On the first ballot, Samuel Pollard had four votes, Rourke had three, and Wayne Peters had two. Voting for Pollard were himself, Robert Maguire, Edward Kennedy and Armand LeMay. Voting for Rourke were himself, Brian Delaney and Raymond Lord. Voting for Peters were himself and Richard Howe. The same votes were cast on the second ballot. However, on the third ballot, Robert Maguire and Edward Kennedy switched to Rourke, giving him the necessary five votes (Rourke, Delaney, Lord, Maguire and Kennedy).
March 22, 1978 – Congressional committee OKs legislation creating Lowell National Park.
April 19, 1978 – Council votes for a $16M to build addition to Lowell High (which became the “1980 building”).
June 2, 1979 - William Taupier resigned as city manager. State Senator B. Joseph Tully and Assistant City Manager Robert Gilman were both candidates to become the next city manager. On June 20, 1979, the council chose Tully who took office on June 25, 1979. Voting for Tully were Mayor Raymond Rourke, and Councilors Brian Delaney, Raymond Lord, Robert Maguire, Wayne Peters, and Samuel Pollard. Edward Kennedy and Armand LeMay voted for Robert Gilman. Richard Howe voted for Richard Bowen of Andover.
November 6, 1979 - Voters reelected incumbents Armand LeMay, Richard Howe, Edward Kennedy, Raymond Rourke, Robert Maguire, Samuel Pollard, and Raymond Lord. Joining them were former councilor M. Brendan Fleming and newcomer Thomas Casey. Incumbent Wayne Peters lost. Incumbent Brian Delaney did not seek reelection.
On the school committee, incumbents Gerald Durkin, Daniel Kane, Clement McDonough, George O’Hare and William Kirwin were reelected. They were joined by newcomer Edmund “Gus” Coutu. Incumbent Robert Wolfgang lost.
On the regional school committee, the winners were incumbent Daniel Kane and newcomer John Ryan. Robert Wolfgang finished third and George Kouloheras finished fourth.
This was the first time punch card ballots were used in a Lowell municipal election, although they had been used in the 1978 state election.
January 7, 1980 - Robert Maguire won his second term as mayor on the third ballot by a five to four vote. On the first ballot, Samuel Pollard had the votes of Maguire, Richard Howe, Armand LeMay and himself. Robert Kennedy had his own vote and those of Raymond Rourke and Thomas Casey. Raymond Lord voted for Armand LeMay and Brendan Fleming voted for himself. On the second ballot, Maguire voted for himself and all the other votes stayed the same. On the third ballot, Lord, LeMay, Rourke, and Casey all switched to Maguire, giving him five votes. Pollard retained Howe’s vote and added Kennedy. Fleming voted for himself throughout.