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Staff Writer CHICOPEE Michael Bissonnette, a well-known attorney who was named the city's "Democrat of the Year" in 1996, has a great deal of concern for the city. But according to the Chicopee native, "it's not a better city that Chicopee needs. It's a better mayor." Fueled by this conviction and a host of other motivations, Bissonnette has taken out papers to challenge Mayor Richard Goyette for the city's highest position in this year's upcoming November election. "I love this city, and the mayor is making an awful mess of it," he said. Claiming that Goyette is a proponent of the "my way or the highway mentality," Bissonnette said that he feels the city's administration has grown divisive under Goyette's leadership. "If Goyette continues down this path, the city is headed off a cliff," said the 51-year-old, who has been the managing partner for Bissonnette Law Offices on Church Street since 1989. According to Bissonnette, this rift in the city's administration is evidenced by the frequent disagreements that Goyette has with the Board of Alderman. "A lot of the fights are over such small things," he said. "It's gotten to the point [in which] the city needs some adult supervision." He said he is specifically concerned about the city's financial situation, explaining that Chicopee needs "sound fiscal management" over a budget that represents a "$127 million operation." He cited the construction of new Chicopee Comprehensive High School which has attracted controversy since the Board of Alderman approved a request by Goyette for the city to borrow an additional $17 million for the project as a "very dangerous endeavor." "You can't just continue to adopt the credit card mentality," he said. "Sooner or later, you'll have to pay." He added that there's a distinct difference between what "we need as a city and what we want." Bissonnette's decision to run for mayor is also rooted in a commitment he said he made in the 1970s, when the city was riddled with "political corruption". "At that time I decided to stay here in the city, live here, make a career here, and help clean up government," he explained. He said that, as he fears the city may be headed down a similar path, his commitment has come full circle. "I'm looking at where we are right now and I'm really concerned about backsliding," he said. "The city has had 30 years of very qualified, professional mayors, but now I'm starting to hear about the same types of things of things I heard about 30 years ago." He went on to explain that he hopes that the good reputation among surrounding communities that the city has struggled to build will not collapse. "It would be disheartening if the view of Chicopee were to change," he said. Bissonnette said, that, unlike Goyette, his leadership tactics would endorse a "team Chicopee" mindset that would reflect a more "inclusive," "team oriented" approach to decision-making. "I tend not to make snap decision," he said. If elected, he said he would "seek a variety of different opinions, get all the information available, and then determine what would be the best decision for the city." He added that he believes this would help him generate a sense of unity among city leaders. He also said that his leadership style embodies the teachings of his upbringing: "I was taught that if you want something, then you stand up and make yourself accountable for it," he said. "Instead of just complaining, I was taught to get involved." Bissonnette, who has been a member of the Democratic State Committee since 1992, and has worked for U.S. Representative Silvio Conte, former State Representative Kenneth M. Lemanski, and former State Senator John Burke, said that his wide-ranged political experience would increase the likelihood that the city will be able to secure state, federal and private grants. "I've had political experience on just about every level of government, and I will use that to negotiate contracts and go after whatever money the city would be eligible at the state, federal and private level," he said. He explained that his candidacy is complimented by a great deal of professional experience in business, along with a long line of civic involvement, including serving as president of the Friends of the Chicopee Public Library from 1996 to 1998, and currently serving on the Board of Directors on the Chicopee Visiting Nurses Association. Bissonnette is also a member of the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, the Knights of Columbus Council 4044, the Friends of Western Massachusetts Hospital, and the Chicopee Boys and Girls Club Tournament Committee. In terms of priorities for the city, Bissonnette said the development of a master plan for the downtown area would take immediate precedence if he were elected. He said that while creating the downtown master plan, he would adopt his "team Chicopee" philosophy and seek the opinion of business leaders as well as other members of the community. One of his main goals, he said, would be to encourage revitalization of the older areas of the city. "Cities all around New England are revitalizing their older areas," he said, adding that successful revitalization efforts in Lowell, are a prime example of this. Revitalization efforts such as these cannot be accomplished, he said, without a "definite plan," which he said he would put a great deal of effort into. In addition, Bissonnette said he would focus on encouraging businesses to "make Chicopee their new home." He said that, as someone who has extensive experience in both politics and business, he would stand a better chance than most at convincing businesses to locate to the city. "I think that the heads of many organizations would feel very comfortable talking with me, because they will know that I understand their needs," he explained. As of last Thursday, Bissonnette said he already collected the majority of the signatures necessary to return his papers. He said that he is hoping that as many members of the community as possible will get involved in his campaign and offer their ideas, talent and commitment, as it may be "a springboard to move the city forward in projecting a positive image of Chicopee throughout the Pioneer Valley." The official announcement of his campaign is expected in the near future, he said, and he is also in the process of creating a website, www.mikeforchicopee.com, which is slated to go live this week. | ||||||
