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| By G. Michael Dobbs Managing Editor NEWS ANALYSIS SPRINGFIELD The roles were reversed during this year's Springfield mayoral election. Two years ago, Charlie Ryan was telling people just how bad conditions were in Springfield, while his opponent, then-State Senator Linda Melconian, told voters that Ryan was exaggerating the city's financial plight. This year, Ryan presented voters with a list of achievements in rolling back the city's problems, while School Committee Vice Chair Thomas Ashe painted a picture of a city he repeatedly called "dangerous." Just like two years ago, voters sided with Ryan's view only this time there was a clear mandate. With a decisive 6,000-vote margin, voters of Springfield decided to stick with Ryan and the incumbent mayor said he was "thrilled" with the election results. "The voters evaluated what I've done and endorsed it," Ryan told Reminder Publications during his victory party at the John Boyle O'Reilly Club. "The voters spoke loud and clear. They are committed to staying the course," Ashe said at his headquarters. "I'm respectful of the voters's wishes." Ashe's supporters packed the Van Horn Spa on Main Street, where the candidate, after giving his concession speech, greeted and thanked each of the people there. Ashe said that he intends to continue his work on the School Committee. "There are no shortage of issues," he said. He added that he intends to "reconnect with his family" over the next few months now that the campaign is at a conclusion. Members of some of the unions that endorsed Ashe were present at the gathering and it was clear from the election results that those endorsements did not carry the clout they intended to have. Ashe and his wife visited Ryan at The Boyle to offer their congratulations and support, which was unlike two years ago when Melconian failed to make that traditional political gesture. Ashe's campaign was marked with accusations that under Ryan the city had seen a leadership deficit and that nothing had been done to address the issue of crime. In a series of debates and his campaign ads, Ryan addressed the charges head-on and with facts to show that his administration had made improvements in the Police Department with the removal of former Police Chief Paula Meara and the redeployment of officers. The voters obviously warmed to Ryan's approach of showing what he had accomplished in the last two years, rather than to Ashe's accusations. Although Ashe's performance at the debates improved, he seemed to be at a disadvantage when speaking about, specifically, what he would do differently and how he would pay for it. The Finance Control Board loomed fairly large in the background of this election. Ryan has shown that he can work with the state-appointed board of overseers, but Ashe's performance was, of course, a mystery. *** Ryan would not speculate whether or not the contract talks for the teachers and patrolmen would move forward now that the election is over. He would not speculate whether or not politics have been an element in those negotiations. And Ryan could not predict what his relationship would be with the City Council, many of whom have actively opposed the mayor. Ryan said he would continue to do the job for which he was elected in his now familiar manner. "You have to stand on your own two feet and say what you think," he said. *** Part of the surprise in the Springfield election was the over-whelming support for Ryan and his reform policies and the affirmation of all of the incumbents on the City Council. Many of those incumbents were members of previous Councils that approved the budgets and policies of the Albano administration that led the city to its financial crisis. Although some would say that the incumbents passed this referendum on their performance, other voters expressed the belief that how the ballot is arranged with the incumbents listed first puts challengers on unfair footing. All of the challengers favored ward representation, something previous Councils have rejected, and this election will undoubtedly bring that fight to a new level. By the results, it was clear that Jimmy Ferrera's television campaign contributed to his showing. Ferrera was the next runner-up to the newest Councilor Bruce Stebbins. And the tireless campaigning of Clodo Concepcion also made an impact with the voters as he followed Ferrera. The challengers had to run aggressive grassroots campaigns as there was relatively little press coverage of the Council race until the final weeks. Stebbins, the one newcomer to the Council, was at the Ryan victory party and at the time this reporter spoke to him he wasn't quite sure if he had won. He said that campaigning for the seat was a "fun experience," as it gave him the opportunity to "meet so many fellow residents and learn about the city's neighborhoods." Stebbins said he hopes to be assigned to the economic development planning sub-committee. He said he wants to meet with neighborhood residents and find out what they see are the economic development issues for their section of the city and work with them. |