Candidates charge mayor is playing a role in their races
Date: 11/4/2011
Nov. 2, 2011By G. Michael Dobbs
Managing Editor
CHICOPEE — Two races this election season have risen to the attention of voters due to the level of charges and counter-charges between the candidates and the alleged involvement of Mayor Michael Bissonnette.
In the City Clerk’s race, incumbent Keith Rattell has asserted that challenger Erin Biela is being run by Bissonnette in an effort “to take over” the clerk’s office. In the Ward One School Committee race, incumbent Adam Lamontagne is smarting over his removal from two subcommittee assignments because “as a result of your reported behavior during a recent subcommittee meeting as well as criminal allegation currently under investigation by law enforcement.”
Bissonnette informed Lamontagne of his action in a letter dated Oct. 18 and delivered it to all School Committee members.
“I got the letter and I didn’t know what he was talking about,” Lamontagne told Reminder Publications. “I’ve tried talking to him but he walked away.”
Lamontagne’s opponent, Trina House has filed a police report with allegations that Lamontagne has participated in actions that has harassed her. House said police officials have said there is not enough evidence at this time to move forward with charges.
House has also reported the actions to the state’s Ethnics Commission.
Lamontagne steadfastly insisted he has done nothing wrong.
“I would never stoop to that level,” he said. “I’m focusing on the campaign and focusing on the issues.”
He did describe House as “the mayor’s hand-picked candidate.”
School Committee member Michael Pise said he has not seen any behavior at subcommittee meetings by Lamontagne that would warrant such an action by Bissonnette. He added, though, that at a subcommittee meeting in August, Lamontagne was “very aggressive” in his arguments to reduce the power of the mayor, who is chair of the School Committee.
Bissonnette was not present at the meeting and Pise said that to date the changes have not been acted upon.
“Honestly, I was kind of shocked when I read the letter,” Pise said.
*** Rattell sees the role of City Clerk as part of the checks and balances of municipal government. Interviewed in the large vault under the first floor offices, Rattell holds up a pile of the contested petitions for a ballot question on extending the term of mayor and said, “I work for the people, not the mayor.”
“If I was an agent for the mayor I could have easily took these petitions and filed them in the city clerk’s vault and they would have never seen the light of day,” he continued.
Rattell said that as part of his job he examined the petitions, and when he realized there could be forgeries he contacted the proper authorities.
He said Bissonnette has “publicly assaulted my character and work ethic” by repeatedly claiming Rattell does not work a full workweek.
Rattell, like Lamontagne, maintains that Bissonnette picked his opponent. Biela is the sister of Bissonnette’s aide Heather Canady.
Rattell was a long time city councilor and a formal mayoral aide. He also worked in the governor’s Office of Business Development before running for city clerk in 2007. He said his experience qualified him for the job.
Among his accomplishments is “a total overhaul of the dog-licensing program. When I took office I discovered that only 1,758 dogs were licensed. Today, we have approximately 4,500. Ensuring every dog has up to date rabies vaccinations as required by law, protecting the health and safety of our residents and collecting revenues due the city.”
Rattell also said he “fought for and obtained an E-Copy System and Software.” This enabled the office to “scan directly into our computers marriage, death and birth records going back to 1925 so far. Instead of typing them, most we can print right out, thus reducing customer wait times and improving customer service.”
He said that despite the allegations he has received “very public support from people” while campaigning.
Biela stressed her decision to run for city clerk had nothing to do with Bissonnette. She said she was motivated to run because Rattell has been “fleecing the city” by not working a full week.
“As a taxpayer I was outraged to learn the city clerk doesn’t come in unless there is an emergency,” she said.
Biela claimed that Rattell spoke to her sister after learning she was opposing him and asked her to dissuade her from running.
Currently working for Charter Communications, Biela has a background of 23 years in customer service, which she said is essential for the position.
This is her first run for public office and she has served as the president of the Chicopee Parent Teacher Organization.
Biela said that if elected she is “willing to extend the hours of the Clerk’s office to 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and possibly later on Thursdays and Saturdays for working people so they do not have to take personal time.”
She would like to have automated online payments for licenses and certificates and see if it is possible to move the clerk’s office to the City Hall annex “for more convenient access.”
She would also explore having a satellite office at the library and senior center and would go to a senior if they couldn’t easily come to the offices.
She would also donate all of her Justice of the Peace fees to Chicopee charities.
“I will go to work all day everyday. I will earn that salary by being there,” she said.
