It was the week after Thanksgiving, but the Faculty Union at Springfield Technical Community College was still cooking. On December 5, members issued their latest vote of no confidence in STCC president John Cook. At first glance, it looked like leftovers. It was the third such a vote against him. Yet, it was not the same recipe.
SPRINGFIELD—There was no arithmetic grinch to upend at-large Councilor Tracye Whitfield’s march to the council presidency Monday night. Indeed, despite the doubt heading into the evening, the informal election of the body’s leader for 2026 occurred quickly and with little fanfare. As a result, Whitfield is on track to become the first woman of color to serve as City Council President here.
The substance of 2025’s last meeting, however, had its twists and turns.
A jury found Mayor Domenic Sarno and the City of Springfield illegally retaliated against former mayoral aide Darryl Moss last month. However, the case is far from over. In fact, it has not even reached the appellate phase. Both sides have entered a flurry of filings from everything to attorneys’ fees to motions to overturn the jury’s verdict.
Since the Springfield City Council initiated the city’s adoption of the Community Preservation Act (CPA), the body has been widely supportive of it and the Community Preservation Committee created to identify projects to fund. By no means have councilors turned their back on the CPA or CPC, but the tension over an allocation at the December 1 meeting was notable.
HOLYOKE—On the precipice of the municipal election, the Facebook page Keep Holyoke Affordable took out the knives. It posted a darkened screengrab from a virtual Planning Board meeting centered on at-large Council candidate Mimi Panitch. The Facebook post included text that blasted her record on the Board and noted the menacing, eight-armed undulating cephalopod in her background.
Johnnie McKnight announced Monday he is trying to run for State Rep again, but he might get a much warmer reception this time.
The main reason for this is McKnight trailed Williams by only 245 votes in the 2024 Democratic primary. The result surprised political observers and may get him more support this time.
Returning after the somewhat stunning election results, the Springfield City Council waded through a short agenda on November 17. To the extent there were any long colloquies, they were about a cybersecurity contract for the schools, the fate of Focus Springfield and revisions to the city’s food truck regulations.
Gerry Martin’s tenacity may explain the lopsidedness of his victory over Tim Allen. Yet, something bigger seems to be afoot in Springfield.
Two School Committee members lost their seats and an incumbent at-large Councilor was squeezed out.
HOLYOKE—Two years after making history as the Paper City’s first Latino mayor, Josh Garcia has won reelection and upended city politics again. It was one of many surprises that ripped through the 413 Tuesday night, matching some of the energy, enthusiasm and, above all, change voters are demanding from this Commonwealth to the Commonwealth of Virginia.
SPRINGFIELD—Of the many races for ward seats on the City Council here, Ward 7 stands out a bit. The current occupant of the seat, Timothy Allen, was part of the original class of ward councilors elected in 2009. He has faced few opponents over the years and he has been in office ever since. Yet, the seat may also be the one where national agitation for generational change is most apparent.