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Date: 6/5/2015
WEST SPRINGFIELD – Hans Doup, former West Springfield principal assessor, has taken out papers to run for the mayor’s post. Doup is the second candidate to announce campaign intentions after Mayor Edward Sullivan said he would not seek a second term.
Doup served as principal assessor beginning in 2012 under former Mayor Gregory Neffinger. He said it was then that he first began considering a run for the city’s top seat.
“I thought I could help out,” Doup said.
Though this has been on his radar since then, he left his assessor’s post about a year later to continue work in the private sector under his company of 30 years, HD Appraisals.
Doup said one of the biggest areas for improvement would be in the schools and helping the district get out of Level 3 ranking. As an appraiser, Doup said, he knows how to identify value items and the school district is one.
The new high school would help fuel success, but he said as a parent, he has seen the struggle of the district.
“I’m glad we have a brand new high school. It should be a great opportunity for the children to succeed,” Doup said. “I know education as a parent. I recognize that our schools were lacking, and that’s why I sent my son to Suffield Academy and he succeeded. That’s not a slap in the face of public schools. I know that he’s a very special boy, and he deserves the best.”
Aside from a focus on education, Doup said he is committed to transparency and accountability.
“The town’s standard will be excellence,” Doup said.
The foundation of this is already established in different departments in town, he said. In his time at Town Hall, he saw “good people doing a good job.” The mayor’s position is similar to that of a conductor, making sure the “music sounds nice” and the departments function as they should, Doup said.
This is something Doup said he can do.
"I wanted to provide a viable alternative for the voters of West Springfield. I didn’t want someone to get a free ride into office,” he said. “I want the person who wins to earn it. I’d make a great mayor. I’ve proved myself a leader, a communicator and a compromiser.”
Doup said his dedication to goals he sets for himself will also benefit his performance, if he were to be elected.
“I’ve always prided myself that when I take on a task, I get really good at it, whether it be my business, sports or music,” Doup said. “I study it; I understand it. I become an aficionado. It consumes me. I’d take on the job of mayor the same way”
In addition to that, he said he intends to listen closely to the residents of West Springfield and what they want to see for their city.
“I guess what I’m going to do is find out what the voters want because that’s who you’re working for,” Doup said. “As I campaign I’ll be listening to what the people of West Springfield want.”
Doup said he is still looking for people who are interested in helping out in his campaign. He can be reached at Doup at hansdoup@comcast.net.