WESTFIELD—The special senate election here did not have much drama. For much of the official campaign and nearly a year before that unofficially, the political soothsayers felt it was then-Rep John Velis’ to lose. They were right. There were prophecies about his former House seat,
WESTFIELD—For a few hours in the western Pioneer Valley Tuesday, humans walked the earth much like they did only a few months ago. Polling places throughout the region seemed almost normal, save the masked sign-holders. Voters—or their mailed ballots—were there too, selecting the region’s next
UPDATED: 1/1/2020 3:53PM: To note the passing of the mayor’s father. Cities around the Pioneer Valley inaugurated their governments elected in last November’s election. For many communities, it heralded a new start. On Monday, Chicopee and Westfield both took on new mayors with varying degrees
Confirming weeks of speculation, Westfield State Senator Don Humason formally announced Thursday he would run for mayor. Mayor Brian Sullivan is retiring, opening the Whip City’s top job. Humason, though a conservative Republican, is an acceptable choice for many who fear a right-wing candidate could
In a jolt to the Whip City politosphere, Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan announced today he would not seek reelection to a third term. The decision not only marks the end of his mayoralty. It could signal a paradigm shift for politics in the city where
UPDATED 11/23/15 5:23PM: Gov. Baker has signed Velis’ bill into law. WESTFIELD—The dreary, rainy fall night enveloping a former auto dealership along Route 20 belied the party inside. Bright arc lights flooded the service bays, now filled with the Shortstop Bar & Grille’s batting cages.
This is the third in a series of posts on the new 189th Massachusetts General Court sworn in January 7. WESTFIELD—When John Velis first became the 4th Hampden’s representative, it was too late to file items for the budget himself, let alone legislation that could escape
WESTFIELD—A brief survey of the crowd packed into the Tavern Restaurant might be mistaken for a family reunion or a parents’s event for kids sports teams, but such is the nature of politics in the Whip City. In fact, friends, family and neighbors had gathered
WESTFIELD—Overshadowed in large part by the hot senate contest next door, the 2nd Hampden & Hampshire Senate election has been a more heated affair as a Democrat seeks one of the few Republican senate seats that could flip. Republican Senator Don Humason is facing a
WESTFIELD—The usual term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives lasts two years, about 19 months of which is in session. After that campaigning begins anew. John Velis has had only about 106 days in session before he needs to prove himself to voters once again.