October 23, 2003

LOWELL SUN - By CHRISTOPHER SCOTT, Sun Staff

LOWELL City Council candidates got a surprise at last night's United Teen Equality Center-sponsored election forum and they quickly tried to capitalize on it by talking about their youth, their children and how important it is to vote.

The two-hour event attracted more observers, well over 100 young people with lots of facial piercing and brightly colored hair, than several previous candidate forums combined.

Their enthusiasm, hooting and hollering at every chance they got particularly for 29-year-old challenger Darius Mitchell, the youngest candidate in the field and incumbent Rithy Uong, a Lowell High School housemaster set the stage for a lively evening candidates savored.

"Running for City Council is a long, hard road," challenger Kevin Broderick told the teens, about half of whom are 18 and vote. "This is certainly an energizing event."

UTEC is an advocacy group geared to keeping teens out of trouble.

Sitting on a basketball court beneath flags of the world that hung from the rafters, candidates' remarks were captured on video. The video was then imposed on a large screen behind them.

The screen was also used to show UTEC-produced video focusing on issues important to young people, like affordable housing, jobs and public safety.

During the short video, several candidates furiously scribbled notes, including incumbents Edward "Bud" Caulfield and Richard Howe and challenger David Laferriere.

The candidates, particularly Caulfield, promised to revisit the issues if re-elected. On a similar note, challenger George Ramirez promised to build a youth center if elected. But Ramirez's promise got a cold reception.

On the flip side, incumbent Armand Mercier's promise to use more of the city's allotment of federal Community Development Block Grant money for youth programs got strong applause.

Mayor Rita Mercier also drew strong applause by declaring "This election isn't about us, it's about you."

Challenger Jonex Oslan also drew an ovation with his remark: "There is nothing wrong with kids today. Kids are positive."

For challengers Jim Milinazzo and Paulette Renault-Caragianes, the forum offered a chance to get reacquainted. Milinazzo knew many of the teens through his former position as Lowell Housing Authority executive director. Renault-Caragianes is head of adolescent health services at the Lowell Community Health Center.

In a brief question-and-answer period, incumbent Eileen Donoghue said she would support a measure to lower the legal voting age to 17. But incumbent Bill Martin said he wouldn't support a special local tax to fund youth causes.

On another local issue, incumbent Rodney Elliott said he would be in favor of broadening local bus service at night and on weekends to assist young people who have no other form of transportation.

Christopher Scott's e-mail address is cscott@lowellsun.com