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Sarno formally announces plans

Date: 8/18/2009

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

NEWS ANALYSIS

SPRINGFIELD -- Mayor Domenic Sarno's formal announcement that he would seek a second term was as much about rumor control than it was a recitation of the mayor's accomplishments over his first term.

A near capacity crowd Wednesday night at The Cedars banquet facility on Island Pond Road -- which has become the unofficial location for big political gatherings in the city -- heard Sarno say that he would maintain public safety and education as his administration's priorities during his second term. He also would strive to continue the "transparency and accessibility" of his first term into his second.

His remarks came after a line-up of prominent Springfield residents and political heavyweights extolled his virtues. At political events such as this one, who is not present is sometimes almost just as important as who is in attendance. Such observations were made by two of the speakers.

Sarno's chief of staff, Denise Jordan, was the emcee for the evening and began the efforts to squash rumors. She said she made sure she was breaking any ethics laws by being at the rally and underscored how much she loved her job. She then made clear that father, former State representative and now Housing and Urban Development official Raymond Jordan and her mother Donna were supporting the mayor. They were not able to be at the rally, and Jordan said that she wanted people to be aware they would work for Sarno's re-election.

"The Jordans are on-board," she said.

A number of the large dais was called up to speak about Sarno prior to the mayor's address.

In making her endorsement School Committee member Marjorie Hurst made a similar statement about her husband, Frederick Hurst, attorney and publisher of "Point of New" newspaper, who was not present at the event. She said her entire family would be supporting Sarno, including her husband, who is a long-time friend and business with City Councilor Bud Williams who is running against Sarno.

Jordan described Sarno as "the people's mayor," a nickname that was repeated by the other speakers.

Jordan noted that State Rep. Sean Curran, Angelo Puppolo and Brian Ashe as well as State Sen. Gale Candaras all are supporting the incumbent.

The executive director of the New England Farm Workers' Council, Heriberto Flores, looked over the crowded room and said, "If you look in this room today, it's like the United Nations" -- an acknowledgment the rally brought out a wide variety of the city's residents.

Hampden County Sheriff Michael Ashe said," It's [the Sarno Administration] is a throwback to good old politics making things work." Ashe added that Sarno "really connects -- he's the real thing."

Dora Robinson, the newly named president of the United Way of the Pioneer Valley, said she was impressed by the fact that Sarno, who had promised to eliminate the trash fee as a campaign promise, was strong and smart enough to change his mind once he took office and learned more about the city's finances.

Hampden County District Attorney William Bennett, who joked about Sarno's clothing sense, introduced the mayor and spoke of Sarno's knowledge of issues concerning the police, neighborhoods and businesses.

"He's taken the time to learn. He's taken the time to listen," Bennett said.

Receiving a standing ovation, Sarno said that people he has met during his first term have given him "the most rewarding experience of my life."

Acknowledging his critics, Sarno said, "I can not make 100 percent of the people happy 100 percent of the time."

He then listed a number of his administration's accomplishments, which included the formation of the Quality of Life Flex Squad; a renewed focus on the problems of youth and gang violence; the hiring of School Superintendent Dr. Alan Ingram; the creation of two balanced budgets; the partnership with the Massachusetts School Building Authority that is bringing $20 million to the city in a pilot program; the agreement for the state to fund $32 million of renovations at Forest Park Middle School; the purchase of two former catholic schools to replace out-dated public school facilities; the creation of the Springfield Promise program; and the success of the school uniform policy.

Sarno mentioned that some reduction of the trash fee has been accomplished through increased recycling efforts and did not speak of the amendment successfully added to the legislation that extended the payback period of the state loan by State Rep. Cheryl Coakley Rivera. Coakley Rivera's legislation will eventually reduce the fee until its elimination in 2011.

When the Finance Control Board imposed the fee, Coakley Rivera and Sarno led the fight against it. Sarno's stand helped win him the election over Charles Ryan. Sarno's re-thinking of the fee led to a political riff with Coakley Rivera.

Sarno said, referring to the immediate elimination of the trash fee, that he was "not willing to mortgage the city's financial future for short term political victory."

Although not mentioning Williams by name, Sarno said he would run a "positive campaign" and hope for a serious discussion about the city's future.