Atkins Was Lone Opposing Vote On Lowell High Bill

CHELMSFORD, MA — Rep. Cory Atkins kept Lowell's home rule petition in the house from being supported unanimously. It has earned the Concord Democrat some grief among her cohorts, as she only represents Acton, Concord, and parts of Chelmsford and Carlisle.

Legislation concerning a new high school in Lowell that has reached Gov. Baker's desk. The House and Senate enacted the bill Friday; It would allow Lowell to use city-owned fields and parkland extending into Tewksbury for construction of a high school that The Lowell Sun reported will cost an estimated $336 million.

Chester Atkins, Cory's former husband, used to represent Lowell. She said she heard from a number of people from that city who asked her to vote against the bill. Sign up for Chelmsford Patch and like us on Facebook for more local news and alerts

"Many constituents from that city - which I don't represent but my former husband did represent in Congress so I had a lot of history there from the 80s and early 90s - had asked me to vote against it, so I did," Atkins told the State House News Service. She said, "The community wanted more of a chance to sit down and talk about this as a community."

The Lowell Sun quoted several lawmakers and officials questioning why she would oppose a colleague's home rule petition.

The bill on Baker's desk can be read here. It specifies that if the land is not used for school construction within five years of the legislation taking effect, it will revert to city parks officials for use as open space or recreation. The deal would also require the city to create some new recreational spaces.

Andy Metzger of the State House News Service contributed to this report