The Lowell Justice Center was dedicated yesterday (September 15, 2023) as The Cornelius F. Kiernan Justice Center. Kiernan served as a state representative for nearly a quarter of a century. Here are the results of the various state elections in which he was a candidate. (Through most of his career, Kiernan ran in a “two seat” district in which the top two finishers were elected.)

1948

In the Democratic Primary for the 14th Middlesex District on September 14, 1948, Cornelius F. Kiernan and former State Representative George T. Walsh were nominated.

In the Republic Primary, incumbent Raymond J. Lord and newcomer Stanislas O. Paquin defeated former State Representative George E. Marchand and newcomers Edmund J. Cheney and Henry N. Pelletier.

In the November 2, 1948, state election, Kiernan finished first with 8814 votes; Raymond J. Lord finished second with 8732 (although he also won a seat); George Walsh was third with 8655 and Stanislaus Paquin was fourth with 6563 votes.

1950

In the Democratic Primary on September 19, 1950, Kiernan topped the field with 2179 votes. Also nominated was former Representative George T. Walsh with 1519. Missing out on the nomination were School Committee member Richard F. Burns with 937; Joseph A. Sullivan with 791; John J. Cryan with 634; and James H. Mansur with 179.

In the Republican Primary, incumbent Raymond J. Lord finished first with 2862 votes, followed by former School Committee member Henry Beaudry with 2079; Richard A. Fortier with 1864; and Thomas P. Gill with 893.

In the November 7, 1950, state election, Raymond Lord finished first with 7840 votes; Cornelius Kiernan won the second seat with 7258 votes; Henry Beaudry finished third with 6681; and George Walsh was fourth with 6373.

1952

In the Democratic Primary on September 16, 1952, Kiernan came in first with 3405 votes. Also nominated was School Committee member Daniel E. O’Neill with 2389 votes. He was followed by Patrick J. Walsh Jr. with 2195; and James H. Mansur with 659.

In the Republican Primary, Raymond J. Lord finished first with 3291 votes. Also nominated was Victor J. Archambault (son of former Mayor Dewey G. Archambault) with 2258. Following him was Roger Beaudry with 1988; Joseph N. Hebert with 1057; and Robert E. Noonan with 732.

In the November 4, 1952, state election, Raymond J Lord finished first with 9925 votes. Cornelius F. Kiernan won the second seat with 9287 votes. Following him was Victor J. Archambault with 7776; and Daniel E. O’Neill with 7178.

1954

In the Democratic Primary on September 14, 1954, Cornelius F. Kiernan finished first with 2689 votes. Also nominated was Archie E Kenefick with 2022. Following him was Lowell police officer George Douglas Sullivan with 1259; George Tsaffaras with 656; James Murphy with 626; Nicholas J. Vergados with 525; and James H. Mansur with 253.

In the Republican Primary, Victor J. Archambault finished first with 1755 votes; Roger A. Beaudry was also nominated with 1131. He was followed by Lucien Deschenes with 864; Alfred S. Gagnon with 824; and Walter A. Sutherland with 589. (Incumbent Raymond J. Lord withdrew from the race to accept an appointment in the office of the state public safety department).

In the November 2, 1954, state election, Cornelius F. Kiernan finished first with 9551 votes. Also elected was Archie E. Kenefick with 8063. The losing candidates were Victor J. Archambault with 6269 and Roger A. Beaudry with 4867.

1956

In the September 18, 1956, Democratic Primary, incumbent Archie F. Kenefick finished first with 3911 votes and incumbent Cornelius F. Kiernan was also nominated with 3886. Lowell School Committee member Thomas L. Crowley finished third with 2717.

In the Republican Primary, Henry J. Roy, the brother of former mayor Leo Roy, finished first with 2397 votes. Attorney Gerald H. Bouvier, an assistant city solicitor was also nominated with 2358 votes. He was followed by John Axon with 1440 and Walter A. Sutherland with 1178.

In the November 6, 1956, state election, the two seats were won by Cornelius F. Kiernan with 10,216 votes and Archie E. Kenefick with 10,196. The losing candidates were Gerald H. Bouvier with 7340 and Henry J. Roy with 6717.

1958

In the September 9, 1958, Democratic Primary incumbents Cornelius F. Kiernan and Archie E. Kenefick were unopposed. (Kiernan received 4076 votes; Kenefick got 3869).

In the Republican Primary, School Committee member Jean A. Matte with 1837 votes and Attorney George P. Jeffreys with 1540 were both nominated.

In the November 4, 1958, state election, incumbents Cornelius F. Kiernan with 9082 votes and Archie E. Kenefick with 8654 were reelected. The losing candidates were George P.  Jeffreys with 5628 and Jean A. Matte with 5620.

1960

In the September 13, 1960, Democratic Primary, incumbents Archie E. Kenefick with 4547 votes and Cornelius F. Kiernan with 4518 defeated Howard Manoian.

In the Republican Primary, there were just two candidates, Joseph N. Hebert and Walter A. Sutherland, so both were nominated.

In the November 8, 1960 state election, Cornelius F. Kiernan with 12,149 votes and Archie E. Kenefick with 12,025 won reelection. They were followed by Joseph N. Hebert with 5302 and Walter A. Sutherland with 4237.

1962

In the September 18, 1962, Democratic Primary, incumbents Archie E. Kenefick with 4646 votes and Cornelius F. Kiernan with 4636 were nominated. They were followed by Elizabeth M. Sharkey with 1928 and Howard Manoian with 917.

In the Republican Primary, there were just two candidates, Joseph N. Hebert and Charles H. LeDuc, so both were nominated.

In the November 6, 1962, state election, both incumbents were reelected with Archie E. Kenefick receiving 11,087 votes and Cornelius F. Kiernan getting 10,433. They were followed by Joseph N. Hebert with 4249 and Charles H. LeDuc with 3534.

1964

In the September 10, 1964, Democratic Primary, newcomer Paul J. Sheehy topped the ticket with 3847 votes. Also nominated was incumbent Cornelius F. Kiernan with 3586. Losing his reelection attempt was Archie E. Kenefick who finished third with 3229 votes.

In the Republican Primary, there were no candidates.

In the November 3, 1964, Cornelius F. Kiernan and Paul J. Sheehy were elected without opposition.

1966

In the September 13, 1966, Democratic Primary, incumbents Paul J. Sheehy with 4106 votes and Cornelius F. Kiernan with 3735 were nominated. They were followed by William H. Lapointe, Lowell’s former Civil Defense Director, who received 1935 votes.

In the Republican Primary, there were no candidates.

In the November 8, 1966 state election, incumbents Cornelius F. Kiernan with 11,374 votes and Paul J. Sheehy with 10,891 were elected without opposition.

1968

In the September 17, 1968, Democratic Primary, incumbents Paul J. Sheehy with 4403 votes and Cornelius F. Kiernan with 3950 were nominated. They were followed by the city’s chief health inspector, John M. L. Murphy with 1831.

In the Republican Primary, there were no candidates.

In the November 5, 1968, state election, incumbents Paul J. Sheehy and Cornelius F. Kiernan were elected without opposition.

1970

In the 1970 Democratic Primary, incumbents Paul J. Sheehy 5534 votes and Cornelius F. Kiernan with 4799 were nominated. Following them was John Michael Leo Murphy with 2583.

In the Republican Primary, there were no candidates.

In the 1970 state election, incumbents Paul J. Sheehy with 12,557 votes and Cornelius F. Kiernan with 12,259 were elected without opposition.

1972

In the September 17, 1972, Democratic Primary, incumbent Cornelius F. Kiernan received 5010 votes. Lowell City Councilor Philip Shea was also nominated with 3684. He was followed by Lowell School Committee member Victor Forsley with 3317; Raymond Gendron with 3137; and James O’Connor with 2554.

In the Republican Primary, there were no candidates.

In the 1972 state election, Cornelius F. Kiernan with 13,848 votes and Philip Shea with 13,384 were elected. Finishing behind them was Independent candidate Stanley W. Norkunas Jr. with 2681.

****

On February 7, 1974, Governor Frank Sargent nominated Cornelius Kiernan to be an Associate Justice of the Somerville District Court. After Kiernan was confirmed and sworn in, he resigned from the State Legislature.