Cliff Krieger to Join License Commisson . . .Samkhann Khoeun to LHA.

City Manager Bernie Lynch has tapped Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Cliff Krieger to fill the seat on the License Commission left vacant by the November resignation of Denis Teague.

In accordance with the state law that established License Commissions in Massachusetts, Lynch had to fill the spot with a registered Republican — who better than the Chair of the Lowell City Republican Committee?

Krieger, who works for a defense contractor, has been active in city civic affairs and politics, having run twice for state representative against Democrat Dave Nangle and was the “right” side of the bi-partisan PAC “Move Lowell Forward.” He has also been active in the city’s efforts to end homelessness as a member of the “Ending Homelessness in Ten Years” Education and Conferences subcommittee.

Krieger, who blogs at http://right-side-of-lowell.blogspot.com/ was most recently considered by the City Council and School Committee to fill the vacancy on the Greater Lowell Technical School Committee vacated by the resignation of Mike Lenzi. That spot went to Ray Boutin by a one-vote margin.

“My wife tells me what I can bring to the License Commission is the ability to bring diverse views together,” said Krieger. “I try to listen to all views and try to find the best view . . what is best for the city. To me the question is: what can I do for my city? And apparently being on the license commission is what I can do for the city.”

Krieger will join Brian Akashian and Christy Delaney on the commission, which is expected to revisit the rules and regulations governing the city’s liquor-serving establishments as recommended by the City Council and Police Superintendent Ken Lavallee, in the near future.

The tightened regulations were drafted following last February’s riot at the now-closed Club 44 at Fortunato’s Restaurant on Palmer Street. Following months of meetings during which the proposed regulations were tweaked, the commissioners took no action, which ultimately led to the resignations of commissioners Wally Bayliss and Ray Weicker at Lynch’s request.

In addition to Krieger’s appointment, Lynch has chosen Samkhann Khoeun to join the Lowell Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners, to fill the expired seat held by  Walter “Buddy” Flynn.

Khoeun is an academic advisor for the TRIO-Educational Talent Search and GEAR-Up Massachusetts programs at Middlesex Community College and Lowell High School, where he assists low-income, first generation and other college-bound students complete their high school education and move on to post-secondary educational opportunities.

He is the former executive director of the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association and is an active, outspoken member of the city’s Cambodian community. Khoeun is a member the steering committee working to help the Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks build a 20,000 sq-foot temple, educational and cultural center off of Townsend Avenue in Pawtucketville.

Bass guitarist Eric Faulkner, a denizen of the city’s downtown and U.S. Army veteran who works as an IT manager for Nobis Engineering, has been appointed to the Lowell Memorial Auditorium Board of Trustees to fill the seat vacated by the expired term of Bunrith Lach. Crystal Arnott, Shelter Manager at the Lowell Humane Society, has been re-appointed to the Animal Advisory Committee.