6:05pm The Shamrock is gearing up for the big night, as is Chris Tierney of the Lowell Sun. The computer whiz kid is making sure the programs are working properly and the web pages look sharp and crisp.

6:10pm People are beginning to trickle in. Representatives from Senator Steve Panagiotakos' office are here as well setting up their computer which will post the results to the assembled crowd and media. Jim Campanini will join us in about 50-minutes to chat with you.

The question is; can the incumbents who live in Belvidere hold off any potential surge. Those results are likely to come in by 8:10.

8:08pm Rita Mercier tops Ward 1 Precinct 1 with 194-votes. Bud Caulfield placed a strong second with 153 votes. Armand Mercier, Kevin Broderick and Bob McMahon all had 134 votes. Mike Lenzi was next at 129.

On the school committee side, Regina Faticanti won that area with 156. John Leahy was 2nd with 149.

8:12pm With three precincts now reporting, Rita, Bud and Armand are running 1-2-3. Kazanjian is 4th and Lenzi 5th.

8:15pm The last Belvidere precinct is now reporting. Overall it's Mercier first. Martin 2nd. Lenzi 3rd. Broderick 4th. Bud 5th. Milinazzo 6th. Kazanjian 7th. Elliot 8th. Armand 9th and Bob McMahon 10th.

8:21pm With 9 precincts reporting, it's still Mercier 1st, then Millinazo, Martin, Caulfield, Broderick, Lenzi, Kazanjian, Elliot, Armand, and Mehmen Ali 10th

8:26pm Next update; Rita, Martin, Bud, Broderick, Lenzi, Kazanjian, Millinazo, Mercier, Elliot, Ali 10th, McMahon 11th.

School Committee; Conway topping the ticket, Regina 2nd, Jackie 3rd.

8:28pm Mercier, Caulfield, Martin, Kazanjian, Broderick, Lenzi, Millinazo, Elliot, Armand, Ali, McMahon, Keegan 12th.

School: Conway, Leahy, Faticanti, Leary, Doherty, Martin, McHugh

8:31pm More than half the precincts are now in. Mercier, Bud, Martin, Kazanjian, Broderick, Lenzi, Armand, Elliot, Millinazo, Ali 10th, McMahon, Mendonca.

8:34pm Rita, Bud, Martin, Kazanjian, Broderick, Armand, Elliot, Lenzi, Millinazo, 10th is Ali, McMahon, Mendonca, Keegan 13th.

School Committee: Conway, Leahy, Faticanti are the top three

Please Pardon any spelling errors. The fingers aren't made to move this quickly...LOL!

8:36pm School Committee Update: Leary 4th, Doherty 5th, Martin 6th

8:38pm Mercier, Caulfield, Martin, Kazanjian, Broderick, Elliot, Armand, Lenzi, Millinazo, Ali 10th, Mendonca 11th.

No changes in the school committee standings with this update

Only two precincts remaining. Only 40 votes separate Connie Martin and Kevin McHugh for the last School Committee spot.

8:42pm Ali trails Milinazzo by 208 votes for the final spot. Mercier tops the ticket by over 1,000 votes

8:44pm We haven't had any new precincts report in a few minutes. Don't know if it's a glitch in the system or what.

8:53pm New results coming in just now: Rita, Caulfield, Martin, Kazanjian, Armand, Broderick, Lenzi, Millinazo, Ali 10...about 210 votes separate Millinazo from Ali.

No changes in the order in the school committee

8:58pm Mike Lenzi leads the Greater Lowell School Committee race. Laferriere is 2nd.

9:02pm Final results (we'll post vote totals on the board in a moment): 1)Rita 2)Bud 3)Martin, Kazanjian, Armand, Broderick, Elliot, Lenzi, Millinazo round out the top 9

School Committee: 1)Conway, Faticanti, Leahy, Doherty, Leary, 6)Martin

Some glitches in the system...we'll repost if there are any changes and take your questions with Jim in a few minutes

9:33pm  This begins a new era in Lowell with the victories of two challengers, Alan Kazanjian and Mike Lenzi. Both are businessmen who should bring a different perspective to city government. They are also quite popular throughout the city. I can see Council Edward "Bud" Caulfield putting in a bid for mayor, and likely putting together a coalition to serve in that post. The incumbents have reason to expect the challengers to roll up their sleeves and work together with City Manager Bernie Lynch to meet the challenges in housing, taxes, development and infrastructure improvements. There is no time for divisiveness, It is a time for action. Hopefully, this election will signal a change in the political tone in the city. John Cox endorsed five of the nine councilors-elect, including the two newcomers. It shows he still has some clout. It remains to be seen if he will exercise any influence over the new majority, but he has said he does not want to return to City Hall and I believe him. This is a time for him to settle down and help others to improve Lowell's quality of life and image. As for Manager Lynch, he is competent and well qualified for the job. However, he must now show his greatest skill: how to communicate with a new council that will have its differences on some policy issues.
Sun Editor Jim Campanini

This concludes the blogging of city of Lowell election. Be sure to pick up tomorrows edition of The Sun and visit Lowellsun.com for full in depth coverage of all races.

Thank you to Senator Steve Panagiotakos and his staff for the great job they do in putting this night together. Thank you also to the staff at the Blue Shamrock for their hospitality!