City Councilor Brooks to challenge Bissonnette

Date: 2/24/2009

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



CHICOPEE -- City Council Vice President Shane D. Brooks took out nomination papers on Monday and told Reminder Publications that he will challenge Mayor Michael Bissonnette in the fall election.

Brooks said, "Over the last eight years, I have had the distinct honor and privilege to serve our city, first as a member of the Chicopee School Committee and more recently, as the Vice President of the Chicopee City Council. "During that time I believe I have acquired the requisite experience and qualifications needed to be successful as your next Mayor. It is my belief that the current administration has, through broken campaign promises and ineffective leadership, not recognized the critical and challenging issues facing the residents of our great city."

He added, "I am looking forward to a long and productive campaign that will allow me to continue to focus my energies on the needs of the city. Any initiative put forth during my campaign will be cost effective and have an overall benefit to the city."

Brooks must gather 250 certified signatures to appear on the ballot.

He said he will have an official kick-off for his campaign sometime in April and will issue press releases on his positions in the next few weeks.

Brooks also criticized statements reported in The Herald by Bissonnette stating he had returned $10,000 of his salary back to the city as part of the his reaction to the recent 9-C mid-year budget cuts.

Brooks said a city ordinance and a ruling from the Department of Revenue prohibited Bissonnette from receiving $52,000 in the second half of FY09 that had been proposed in the mayor's budget. The City Council had reduced that amount in September by $10,000.

"He's playing a shell game. He didn't return his raise," Brooks said.