Bissonnette won't run for Clerk of Courts
Date: 4/4/2012
April 4, 2012By G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.comCHICOPEE — After more than a week of speculation, Mayor Michael Bissonnette announced on April 2 he would not be a candidate for Hampden County Clerk of Courts, but he will seek another term as mayor in 2013.
Bissonnette had left for a vacation shortly after Brian Lees announced he would not seek reelection. Bissonnette had posted a message on his Facebook page that he was considering running for the position and would announce a decision once he returned.
On Monday morning, Bissonnette wrote on his Facebook page, "Running for Clerk of Courts is intriguing and a great personal opportunity but having a good chance to win is not the same as having a good reason to run. We are right in the middle of making progress happen in Chicopee. From improved schools to a $200 million road/sewer improvement program to brownfields cleanup at the RiverMills site, you can see and feel it everywhere. The senior center, Chicopee High School renovation, police station upgrade and City Hall renovations are all on the front burner. We also have retirements coming in senior management and financial positions, a need to continue consolidating and modernizing city government and big issues from casinos to Westover [ARB] cutbacks to address. As a result, I will not be a candidate for Clerk and intend to run for reelection as mayor in 2013. Thanks to everyone for their support, advice and friendship in helping me reach this decision."
Springfield City Councilor Thomas Ashe had also been reported considering running for the job.
Lees said that he is leaving at the end of his term to pursue opportunities in the private sector.
