Governor’s Council Redistricting Causes Angst

November 18, 2011 by Marie Posted in Greater Lowell, History, Lowell, Politics, Election 2012 5 Comments

Just a quick note on more redistricting fall-out. Lost in the angst locally and elsewhere over the congressional districts redistricting plan is the shuffle in the Governor’s Council districts. In the it’s “all among friends” geograpical dance – Governor’s Councilor Marilyn Pettito Devaney has lost the First Middlesex Senatorial District to friend and colleague Mary Ellen Manning – but certainly not by choice! An unhappy Devaney was bemoaning this fate to Greater Lowell Area Dems at last night’s Democratic State Committee meeting out at Fitchburg State U. Devaney was always well-treated by activists up here. Puzzled by the move, she now faces introducing herself to new communities like Belmont. Her colleague Manning has had the Lowell-area communities of Tewksbury and Dracut of the Second Essex/Middlesex Senatorial district in her geographical baliwick for a longtime. A prize for anyone who can reporting a local sighting of Manning! Will Lowell, Tyngsboro, Westford, Dunstable, Groton and Pepperell fare better in catching a glimpse of Manning? Maybe Devaney will bring her friend to the East End Club. Will the senate district reassignments bring out new candidates to challenge these longtime Councilors?  Stay tuned.

Here’s a link to the new Governor’s Council districts map.

5 Responses to Governor’s Council Redistricting Causes Angst

  1. Mary-Ellen Manning says:

    Marie…so glad that you broght up this topic! Looking forward to meeting you….let me know if you would like a list of locals who might want to claim that prize. Sorry that I haven’t run into you in Lowell…but I bet I will soon. Happy Thanksgiving!

  2. Mary-Ellen Manning says:

    Or running into you in Tewksbury…it’s been my experience that most of the events for Dracut and Tewksbury were linked with the Lowell events…now that I represent Lowell, I am hoping that GLAD will keep me informed in the future…looking forward to it!

  3. Marie says:

    I fully expect that both Ms Manning and Congressman Tierney are going to have our part of the Merrimack Valley/Northern Middlesex on their respective Democratic radar screens. In the case of Tewksbury – where I have resided for 40 years – we should be wooed for our individuality as well as for our place in the Greater Lowell world. We look forward to the wooing, the work and the winning!

  4. Gerry Nutter says:

    Mary-Ellen,

    You and I stay in touch, maybe Marie will award me the prize! Looking forward to seeing you at Fred Simons Birthday Bash Dec. 2nd and hopefully you will be able to stop by the Sun on Dec 10th for the Radiothon and introducing yourself to the entire Greater Lowell Area.