Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Assistant Managing Editor EAST LONGMEADOW On Nov. 15 Selectman Gary DeLisle turned in a letter of resignation, citing "family and personal considerations" as his reasons for no longer being able to "dedicate the time and effort the job requires and that the residents deserve." "I've known Gary for an awful long time and I've served with him on the board for two and a half years . he's fantastic, and I regretfully accepted his resignation," Selectman Chair James Driscoll shared. "He was very quiet but an effective leader and he dedicated himself to the town. I had the honor of serving with him and Jack Claffey and I miss them both terribly." Driscoll said he could not speak for the Selectmen when asked what kind of person he would like to fill DeLisle's seat, but he said he personally was "looking for someone like Claffey and DeLisle who is open-minded, non-political and just dedicated to the town of East Longmeadow." He said that while politics play a role with elections, he wants it to end after an election. William Gorman and Enrico "Jack" Villamaino have taken out nomination papers for the seat. Gorman said he ran for the seat on the same committee ten years ago. He said since then things have become worse in town. "I'm sick of taxes going up in East Longmeadow. Three hundred houses are up for sale [here]," Gorman said. "People are moving out because they can't afford it. My daughter moved to Florida." Gorman said "officials think we have an open spending account." Gorman said it costs families $180-280 to bus their children. "I feel sorry for people who are living day to day trying to make ends meet," Gorman said. He questioned spending habits such as the Department of Public Work trucks needing GPS systems (a satellite-based navigation system) in a town the size of East Longmeadow. He said he grew up in East Longmeadow and hopes to win the seat to get in there and "fight for the right thing." Villamaino has just came off the campaign trail. He went head to head with State Representative Gale Candaras in November's primary's for the Senate seat Brian Lees vacated. He said that he did carry East Longmeadow in that election. He said the residents were extremely supportive. "A lot of people asked me if I would consider running again because they liked a younger candidate that was willing to put in the footwork," Villamaino said. "I did take out papers [for the open Selectman seat] and I'm leaning toward turning them in." Villamaino said, "It is about serving my community. East Longmeadow is my hometown." A former aide of Lees, he said he has experience in working with the legislature and that, if elected, he would work on the amount of local aid that East Longmeadow receives from the state government. He believes this experience combined with the support of residents will benefit him in running for the Selectman seat. "I had a tremendous showing in the previous election. They were impressed with the campaign I ran. I am someone who is eager to work. A lot of people have recognized that I think it makes me a strong [candidate]," Villamaino added. There will be a special election on Jan. 23 at Birchland Park Middle School to elect a candidate for the open Selectman seat. Gorman and Villamaino were the only residents to turn in nomination papers at press time. | ||||||
