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Date: 4/13/2022
CHICOPEE – Mayor John Vieau is giving students and young adults an inside look at Chicopee government and running for office with the new “How Chicopee Runs” meeting series.
Initiated by the mayor’s Communications and Special Projects Manager Rachel Beaulieu, “How Chicopee Runs” intends to get the younger population more involved in the city and its operations, according to Vieau. The meeting also featured Treasurer Marie Laflamme and Ward 9 City Councilor Mary-Elizabeth Pniak-Costello.
“What we’re trying to do is get more students and young adults involved in the City of Chicopee. Rachel has started this group that will hopefully meet monthly and will talk about how Chicopee runs,” said Vieau.
Vieau delved into the inner workings of Chicopee’s government by explaining his background as a politician. The mayor initially ran for the Board of Alderman, which is now known as the City Council in Chicopee. “I decided to run. At first it takes a lot of courage. Secondly it takes a lot of support. You’re running on your own merit, meaning your background, what you stand for and what your beliefs are,” said Vieau.
As mayor, Vieau explained his role as a city representative who answers to the people and their needs. The mayor stressed acting in the best interest of Chicopee residents and strengthening public safety serve as core objectives of his term.
“That’s what you want to do is earn the public’s trust. I want people to know that I am working in their best interest every day,” said Vieau.
The mayor also described his process assembling a campaign team and gathering 250 signatures for his nomination papers when running for office in 2019. Vieau shared that he and his team started a grassroots campaign to gather signatures before his mayoral bid, submitting his signatures to the registrar of voters before being placed on the ballot.
From there, the mayor endures a lengthy campaigning process, according to Vieau. As a politically unenrolled candidate, Vieau said he utilized his campaign to promote a balanced perspective on issues affecting the city. The election process also requires sacrifice, with the mayor assembling a challenging “heart to heart” family meeting before deciding to run in 2019.
“It takes a lot of courage, passion, resiliency and you have to have thick skin…I had to share with my family ‘I’m not sure what people are going to say about me.’ I don’t let hearsay or other half-truths bother me,” said Vieau.
Vieau concluded the meeting by reflecting on his last two years as mayor. “This has been the most rewarding thing that I’ve ever done in my life…The highs and lows of this job are just incredible,” said Vieau.
The next “How Chicopee Runs” meeting will be on April 14 at 3 p.m. at Chicopee Public Library. Readers can view the entire meeting at https://vimeo.com/695215951?fbclid=IwAR1DxI2g3cnsFgLK53kwHy2hHAdXDHSIe9oGntKY90EeHVoUDTa4gyrYIiA.