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Date: 10/2/2023
HOLYOKE — Following the closing of polls last Tuesday, Sept. 26, the Ward 7 preliminary election has brought forward the two candidates who will appear on the ballot in November.
Ward 7 Candidates Meagan Magrath-Smith and Eileen Brady Leahy will face off for the City Council opening in Ward 7 in the November election and the winner will fill the seat, as current City Council President Todd McGee has announced he is not seeking reelection.
Magrath-Smith was the official winner of the Ward 7 runoff with 13% of the ward’s 4,400 eligible voters casting ballots. She received 330 votes to Brady-Leahy’s 222. The reason for the runoff came from candidate Stephen Rosenbush joining the race, and he received 16 total votes in the primary.
In a publicly released statement, Magrath-Smith said she was proud of the primary results, but was not taking anything for granted with six weeks leading up to the November election.
“Since I announced my candidacy in March, I’ve been committed to knocking on as many doors as possible and meeting as many Ward 7 residents as I can, so I can have a true understanding of what the needs and priorities of the district are,” Magrath-Smith said. “My campaign commitments remain the same: to continue to bring transparency and communication to our residents, advocate for quality-of-life issues and long-term investments in our infrastructure, and be a reasonable voice for change on the City Council.”
Magrath-Smith is a teacher in Springfield and has experience as chair of the Holyoke CPA committee and serving on Mayor Joshua Garcia’s transition team.
Leahy said she was feeling great following the primary and is looking forward to the November election. Leahy is a licensed attorney and has over a decade of experience on both the Conservation Commission and the License Board in Holyoke. Her husband, James Leahy, served on the City Council for 22 years, from 2000 to 2022.
“I have a great background in environmental issues in the city of Holyoke and protecting our green space,” Leahy said. “I also bring my vast knowledge of how to communicate with people, how to negotiate, how to be able to have a different opinion, but still walk out of a room being cordial and friendly to other people.”
Leahy added her knowledge in different areas of the city and her experience was something she feels is a benefit for her candidacy.
Both candidates have made it clear the work will only ramp up from here, and being visible and making connections with the residents of Ward 7 was important for both campaigns.
The closing of primary polls now officially sets up the November general election. This year’s election features multiple contests for the City Council and School Committee.
In the City Council, the at-large race for six seats includes the following candidates: incumbents Tessa Murphy-Romboletti, Israel Rivera, Kevin A. Jourdain and Jose Maldonado Velez, along with challengers Howard B. Greaney, Michael J. Sullivan, Axel Fontanez, Patricia C. Devine and Mimi Panitch.
At-Large Councilors Joseph McGiverin and Peter Tallman, two of the most experienced councilors, have both announced they will not be seeking reelection, thus creating the openings for at-large council spots. The two councilors join McGee and Ward 2 Councilor Will Puello as those not seeking reelection. Each ward and its race include:
Ward 1: Incumbent Jenny Rivera and Victor M. Machado De Jesus.
Ward 2: Carmen Yolanda Oscasio and Jannelle Mojica.
Ward 3: Incumbent David Bartley and Anne Thalheimer.
Ward 4: Incumbent Kocayne Givner and Ruth I. Garcia.
Ward 5: Incumbent Linda Vacon and Guy O’Donnell.
Ward 6: Incumbent Juan Anderson Burgos runs unopposed.
Ward 7: Eileen Brady Leahy and Meagan Magrath-Smith.