Democratic Contenders to Face Off Days Before the Primary
08/13/2018
Contact: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944 or Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu and Jonathan Strunk, 978-935-8082 or Jonathan_Strunk@uml.edu
Media Advisory
When: Thursday, Aug. 16. Debates begin at 6 and 7:15 p.m.
Where: University Crossing, 220 Pawtucket St., Lowell. Contact UMass Lowell media relations for directions and parking information.
What: Democratic candidates vying to serve in the Massachusetts Senate and House of Representatives will share their views before voters in two free debates for the UMass Lowell community and public.
State Senate hopefuls John Drinkwater, Rodney M. Elliott, Edward J. Kennedy, William F. Martin Jr. and Terry Ryan, who are running for election in the 1st Middlesex District race, will debate the issues in the event’s first session to begin at 6 p.m. Each is looking to replace former state Sen. Eileen Donoghue, who resigned her post earlier this year to become Lowell’s city manager. The district serves constituents in Dunstable, Groton, Lowell, Pepperell, Tyngsborough and Westford.
A second debate featuring candidates for the state House of Representatives’ 18th Middlesex District will follow at 7:15 p.m. Participants are expected to include James Leary, Sam Meas, incumbent Rady Mom and Rithy Uong. The district serves constituents in Lowell’s Acre and Highlands sections and includes portions of UMass Lowell’s campus.
No debate among Republican candidates will be held, as there is only one GOP candidate, John MacDonald of Lowell, in the 1st Middlesex District Senate race. The primary election will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 4.
The debate is sponsored by UMass Lowell and The Sun newspaper of Lowell. The event will be hosted by Frank Talty, co-director of UMass Lowell’s Center for Public Opinion and assistant dean of the university’s College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
Christopher Scott, The Sun’s enterprise editor, will moderate both sessions. Panelists will include Sun reporter Rick Sobey and UMass Lowell political science major Ryan Callahan of Chelmsford.
Members of the public who would like to attend the event should RSVP by emailing debate@uml.edu.