Here’s a synopsis of city council and school committee elections from 1991 through 2015 to provide some historical context for Tuesday:

1991

Voters reelected council incumbents Tarsy Poulios, Bud Caulfield, Kathy Kelley, Richard Howe, Gerald Durkin, Robert Kennedy and Curtis LeMay. Joining them were former councilor Richard O’Malley and newcomer Bernie Lemoine. Incumbent Raymond Rourke lost. Incumbent M. Brendan Fleming did not run. (Tarsy Poulios became mayor).

On the school committee, incumbents George Kouloheras, Steve Panagiotakos, Ray Riddick, Kathryn Stoklosa, and Regina Faticanti were reelected. Joining them was former school superintendent Henry Mroz. Incumbent Mary Anna Sullivan did not run.

During the term, Robert Kennedy resigned from the council to become administrator of the LRTA. He was replaced by Ray Rourke, who later resigned due to poor health. He was replaced by Chuck Caragianes.

Front: Laurie Machado, Larry Martin, Richard Howe, Steve Gendron; rear: Bud Caulfield, Mike Geary, Matt Donahue, Grady Mulligan, Tarsy Poulios

1993

Voters reelected incumbent councilors Bud Caulfield, Richard Howe, and Tarsy Poulios. Joining them were newcomers Laurie Machado, Steve Gendron, Matt Donahue, Michael Geary, Grady Mulligan, and Larry Martin. Incumbents Gerald Durkin, Bernie Lemoine, Kathleen Kelley, Curtis LeMay and Richard O’Malley all lost. Incumbent Charles Caragianes did not run. (Richard Howe became mayor).

On the school committee, incumbents George Kouloheras, Kathryn Stoklosa and Regina Faticanti were reelected. They were joined by newcomers Michael Gallagher, Timothy Golden, and James Kennedy. Incumbents Henry Mroz and Ken Powers lost. Incumbent Steve Panagiotakos, who had been elected state representative the prior year, did not seek reelection to the school committee.

Four nonbinding referendum questions also appeared on the ballot:

Question 1 – Do you support keeping the present Plan E form of government? “Yes” got 8,234 votes; “No” got 8,779.

Question 2 – Do you support a change in the city charter to provide for an elected mayor as chief executive instead of an appointed city manager?  “Yes” got 10,441 votes; “No” got 6,760.

Question 3 – Do you support a charter change that would provide for district councilors instead of elections at large?  “Yes” got 6,841 votes; “No” got 9,213.

Question 4 – Do you support a limit on terms of all elected officials in the city of Lowell to a maximum of 4 two-year terms in office?  “Yes” got 11,946 votes; “No” got 5,093.

During this term, City Manager Richard Johnson resigned. He was replaced by Brian Martin.

1995

Voters reelected council incumbents Bud Caulfield, Richard Howe, Grady Mulligan, Larry Martin, Steve Gendron, and Matt Donahue. They were joined by newcomers Eileen Donoghue, Rita Mercier and Peter Richards. Incumbents Tarsy Poulios, Laurie Machado and Micheal Geary did not seek reelection. (Bud Caulfield became mayor).

On the school committee, incumbents Tim Golden, George Kouloheras, Kathryn Stoklosa and Regina Faticanti were reelected. Joining them were former city manager William Taupier and newcomer Robert Hoey. Incumbents Michael Gallagher and James Kennedy did not seek reelection.

1997

Voters reelected incumbent councilors Rita Mercier, Bud Caulfield, Eileen Donoghue, Richard Howe, Grady Mulligan and Peter Richards.  They were joined by former State Senator Daniel Leahy and by newcomers Rodney Elliott and Armand Mercier. Incumbent Larry Martin lost. Incumbents Steve Gendron and Matt Donahue did not seek reelection. (Eileen Donoghue became mayor).

On the school committee, incumbents Timothy Golden, George Kouloheras, Kathryn Stoklosa, Regina Faticanti, and William Taupier were reelected. They were joined by newcomer Kevin McHugh. Incumbent Robert Hoey ran (unsuccessfully) for city council.

During the term, Daniel Leahy resigned from the city council and was replaced by Larry Martin. School Committee member Kathryn Stoklosa passed away on March 21, 1999 and was replaced by Joseph Mendonca.

Front: Rita Mercier, Eileen Donoghue, Armand Mercier; rear: Rithy Uong, Rodney Elliott, Bill Martin, Bud Caulfield, Richard Howe, Dan Tenczar

1999

Voters reelected council incumbents Rita Mercier, Eileen Donoghue, Bud Caulfield, Armand Mercier, Richard Howe and Rodney Elliott. Joining them were newcomers William Martin, Daniel Tenczar and Rithy Uong, the city’s first Cambodian-American elected official. Incumbents Grady Mulligan and Larry Martin lost. Incumbent Peter Richards did not run. (Eileen Donoghue became mayor).

On the school committee, incumbents Timothy Golden, Regina Faticanti, Kevin McHugh and Joseph Mendonca were reelected. Joining them were newcomers Connie Martin and John McQuaid. Incumbent George Kouloheras lost. Incumbent William Taupier did not run.

There was also a ballot referendum that would abolish recently-enacted term limits for councilors. Voters abolished term limits, 7,149 to 5,322.

Brian Martin resigned as city manager in June 2000. He was replaced by John Cox.

Front: Armand Mercier, Rita Mercier, Eileen Donoghue. Rear: Richard Howe, Rodney Elliott, Bud Caulfield, Dan Tenczar, Bill Martin, Rithy Uong

2001

Voters reelected all nine council incumbents, Rita Mercier, Eileen Donoghue, Bud Caulfield, Richard Howe, Armand Mercier, Rodney Elliott, Bill Martin, Rithy Uong and Dan Tenczar. (Rita Mercier became mayor).

On the school committee, incumbents Tim Golden, Regina Faticanti, Connie Martin, Kevin McHugh and Joe Mendonca were reelected. They were joined by John Leahy. Incumbent John McQuaid did not run.

2003

Voters reelected council incumbents Rita Mercier, Eileen Donoghue, Bud Caulfield, Armand Mercier, Richard Howe, Bill Martin, Rodney Elliott and Rithy Uong.  Joining them was newcomer James Milinazzo. Incumbent Daniel Tenczar did not run. (Armand Mercier became mayor).

On the school committee, incumbents Regina Faticanti, John Leahy, Kevin McHugh, Connie Martin and Joe Mendonca were reelected. They were joined by newcomer Jackie Doherty. Incumbent Tim Golden did not run.

During this term, Rithy Uong resigned from the city council and was replaced by Kevin Broderick.

2005

Voters reelected council incumbents Rita Mercier, Eileen Donoghue, Bud Caulfield, Rodney Elliott, Armand Mercier, Kevin Broderick, Jim Milinazzo and William Martin. They were joined by newcomer George Ramirez. Incumbent Richard Howe did not run.  (William Martin became mayor).

On the school committee, incumbents Jackie Doherty, Regina Faticanti, John Leahy, Kevin McHugh and Connie Martin were reelected. Joining them was newcomer James Leary. Incumbent Joseph Mendonca ran (unsuccessfully) for city council.

During this term, City Manager John Cox resigned and was replaced by Bernie Lynch. Also, City Councilor George Ramirez resigned and was replaced Joseph Mendonca.

2007

Voters reelected council incumbents Rita Mercier, Bud Caulfield, William Martin, Armand Mercier, Kevin Broderick, Rodney Elliott, and James Milinazzo. Joining them were newcomers Alan Kazanjian and Michael Lenzi. Incumbent councilor Eileen Donoghue, who was running in a special congressional election, did not seek reelection to the council. Incumbent Joseph Mendonca lost. (Bud Caulfield became mayor).

On the school committee, incumbents Regina Faticanti, John Leahy, Jackie Doherty, Jim Leary and Connie Martin were all reelected. Joining them was newcomer David Conway. Incumbent Kevin McHugh lost.

2009

Voters reelected incumbent councilors Rita Mercier, Bud Caulfield, Kevin Broderick, James Milinazzo, William Martin and Rodney Elliott. Joining them were former councilor and school committee member Joseph Mendonca and newcomers Franky Descoteaux and Patrick Murphy. Incumbents Armand Mercier and Alan Kazanjian lost. Incumbent Michael Lenzi did not run. (James Milinazzo became mayor).

On the school committee, incumbents David Conway, John Leahy, Jackie Doherty, James Leary, and Connie Martin were all reelected. Joining them was newcomer Alison Laraba. Incumbent Regina Faticanti lost.

A ballot referendum to change the method by which Lowell voters chose their city councilors (called Choice Voting) was defeated by 6,841 against to 5,174 in favor.

2011

Voters reelected incumbent councilors Rita Mercier, Rodney Elliott, Kevin Broderick, Patrick Murphy, William Martin and Joseph Mendonca. Joining them were former city councilor Edward Kennedy and newcomers Marty Lorrey and Vesna Nuon. Incumbent James Milinazzo lost. Incumbents Bud Caulfield and Franky Descoteaux did not run. (Patrick Murphy became mayor).

On the school committee, incumbents David Conway, James Leary and Connie Martin were reelected. They were joined by newcomers Kim Scott, Kristin Ross-Sitcawich and Robert Gignac. Incumbents Jackie Doherty and Alison Laraba lost. Incumbent John Leahy ran (unsuccessfully) for city council.

During this term, Kevin Broderick resigned from the City Council and was replaced by John Leahy.

2013

Voters reelected incumbent councilors Rita Mercier, Rodney Elliott, Edward Kennedy, William Martin, and John Leahy. Joining them were former councilor James Milinazzo and newcomers Daniel Rourke, William Samaras and Corey Belanger. Incumbents Marty Lorrey, Vesna Nuon and Joseph Mendonca all lost. Incumbent Patrick Murphy did not run. (Rodney Elliott became mayor).

On the school committee, incumbents James Leary, David Conway, Connie Martin, Kim Scott and Kristin Ross-Sitcawich were reelected. Joining them was former city councilor Stephen Gendron. Incumbent Robert Gignac lost.

During this term, City Manager Bernie Lynch resigned and was replaced by Kevin Murphy.

2015

Voters reelected incumbent councilors Rita Mercier, Rodney Elliott, Edward Kennedy, John Leahy, William Samaras, James Milinazzo, Daniel Rourke and Corey Belanger. Joining them was former school committee member James Leary. Incumbent William Martin did not run. (Edward Kennedy became mayor).

On the school committee, incumbents Stephen Gendron and Connie Martin were reelected. Joining them were former school committee members Jackie Doherty, Robert Gignac and Robert Hoey, and newcomer Andre Descoteaux. Incumbents James Leary and Dave Conway ran for the city council (Leary won, Conway lost). Incumbents Kim Scott and Kristin Ross-Sitcawich did not run.