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Date: 1/9/2024
HOLYOKE — At-Large City Councilor Tessa Murphy-Romboletti has made history after being elected the first ever woman City Council president in the city’s history.
In a tight 7-6 vote, Murphy-Romboletti was elected by her fellow councilors during the council’s reorganization meeting that followed its inauguration ceremony to become the latest City Council president. Murphy-Romboletti was reelected to her second term on the council in the November election.
Murphy-Romboletti thanked family and friends for their support as well as Mayor Joshua Garcia for his collaborative efforts working with the City Council. She added thanks to the outgoing councilors who served with her in her first term, specifically long timers Joe McGiverin, Peter Tallman and Todd McGee.
“It certainly feels odd not to see Joe, Todd and Peter here with us in council chambers after decades of leadership. Their years of service, tireless efforts and unwavering commitment for our city have left an indelible mark on its history. But more importantly, they supported me so much in my first term and I cannot thank them enough,” Murphy-Romboletti said.
Longtime and returning At-Large Councilor Kevin Jourdain opposed Murphy-Romboletti for the position and cited his experience of 13 served terms as a councilor and as a former council president for his campaign.
The reorganization meeting began following the City Council inauguration ceremony. As mentioned by newly elected but returning City Councilor Patricia Devine, this new council is a historic one for the city as there is a new majority.
“I wanted to mention that today is a historical day in the city of Holyoke. There are seven women on the City Council,” Devine said before being interrupted by applause from the packed crowd inside the council chambers. “This is the first time in the history of the city of Holyoke, so congratulations everyone.”
Murphy-Romboletti said when reflecting on being the council’s first woman president that it was not lost on her all the sacrifices of the women who came before her. She added her grandmother and great grandmother, who she never was able to meet, both served in local government and as a union leader. She said she believes their strengths through their positions served were passed down to her, leading to her love for serving in local government.
“There are so many women in Holyoke that paved the way for a female city council president and especially woman of color and I’m really looking forward to the day when we have a person of color as president,” Murphy-Romboletti said.
In her acceptance speech, Murphy-Romboletti spoke about her passion for local government as it is when “the tire meets the road.”
“Local government is about ensuring our streets are safe, our schools are nurturing environments for our children and our neighborhoods are vibrant spaces where everyone feels a sense of belonging,” Murphy-Romboletti said.
“It’s about understanding that the challenges we face are nuances and multi-faceted, and they require collaborative solutions that go beyond political affiliations. That’s why I love local government.”
The new council president also called on her fellow councilors to look forward to this new term as a chance to improve civility across the council in what is often times an uncivil political landscape in the present day. She added she often hears of days past of the council gathering post-meetings for meals and having better relationships, regardless of opinions and debates within the council chambers.
“It really wasn’t that long ago that this was happening. We need to get back to that kind of atmosphere. We don’t have to be best friends, but we do have an opportunity to set an example for other communities that proves that despite our differences, we can unite in our love for Holyoke and our dedication to its progress,” Murphy-Romboletti said.
In closing, Murphy-Romboletti recognized the contested vote and called it the “beauty of democracy.” She added she did not claim to have all the answers and did not have every skill needed to single-handedly navigate future issues facing the city, but that she promised to do her best as council president to be there for her fellow councilors.
“I promise to listen intently, to learn continuously and to lead with humility and an open mind. I ask for your patience and your guidance as I embark on this journey as City Council president and I recognize that true leadership involves not only recognizing our strengths, but fully acknowledging and learning from my own short comings,” Murphy-Romboletti said. “Regardless of whether or not we have agreed or disagreed in the past, I will treat this position with the respect it deserves. I will lead with impartiality and I will always make decisions with Holyoke’s best interests in mind.”
Murphy-Romboletti added she hopes to lead meetings in a manner that encourages participation, values diverse perspectives and leads to meaningful outcomes.
“I realize that behind every opinion there is a person with their own experiences, their own beliefs and their own aspirations for our community. Our discussions can be spirited yet respectful, where disagreements do not devolve into discord, but instead can lead us closer to consensus,” Murphy-Romboletti said. “I am not naïve enough to believe its going to be all rainbows and sunshine, but I do believe firmly that we need to change the tone of our meetings. The people of Holyoke are watching us, they deserve the best versions of their elected officials.”