WESTFIELD—Election Day across the Pioneer Valley had its share of surprises and disappointment. Yet, despite some cursory similarities among six Hampden County cities that held elections, very little wisdom can be confidently drawn from this local cycle with one exception. While the Whip City featured spirited
While the mayor’s race may be somewhat anticlimactic, the City Council races are not. Moreover, the City Council is an integral body in Springfield government. True, its power and its potential are weighted down by misperceptions of its power, even among its own members. However,
Before the casino referendum vote in July of 2013, we urged Springfield residents to vote with their whole heart, their whole soul and their whole mind. It was crucial that they rise and register their opinion that day. Tuesday’s mayoral election in Springfield, may not
SPRINGFIELD—There may not be much debating in the mayoral contest with the incumbent resisting public accountability, but the City Council races are far different. At least three at-large debates/forums are planned and the first, last week’s debate at American International College, offered a window into
Were Springfield at-large Councilor Bud Williams to find something to blame for the rising temperature in this year’s Council election, unfortunate serendipity should come to mind. Positive headlines aside—some real, others just text belching “progress”—discontent remains afoot in the Land of Springfield, permeating its competitive
SPRINGFIELD—As the dust settles on the mayoral preliminary here, the enormity of the challenge before Salvatore Circosta has begun to come into focus. Although Circosta received enough votes to continue his campaign into November, incumbent mayor Domenic Sarno scored 75% of the pitifully few votes
Despite a spirited race for mayor, voters simply whiffed on Tuesday’s preliminary. Sweltering heat and a moved election date contributed to an abysmal 7.1% turnout. But this is a tragedy, one that goes right to heart of what is wrong in the Land of Springfield. This is
UPDATED 10:16am: For grammar. This post is the third in a series on Springfield mayoral candidates ahead of the September 8 preliminary. SPRINGFIELD—With less than two days before the polls open, Ivelisse Gonzalez appeared pragmatic about her first bid for public office. Though hopeful about her
This post is the second in a series on Springfield mayoral candidates ahead of the September 8 preliminary. SPRINGFIELD—The building at the corner of Chestnut and Pearl Streets seems a metaphor for Springfield. Its historic air and good bones are weighed down by its aged appearance,
This post is the first in a series on Springfield mayoral candidates ahead of the September 8 preliminary. SPRINGFIELD—Salvatore Circosta and the man he seeks to replace as mayor, Domenic Sarno, have a lot in common. Both are Italian, the same generation of each’s family