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Date: 10/2/2019
CHICOPEE – The Chicopee mayoral race took a turn last week when candidate Joe Morissette made assertions that his opponent John Vieau called “gutter politics.”
Although both men have said in the past they would run a positive campaign, Morissette reacted to the announcement that Vieau was planning to conduct what he called “a high dollar” fundraiser at the Student Prince in Springfield on Sept. 25.
Morissette linked the co-owner of the restaurant, Peter Picknelly, to the event, saying he was hosting it, and accused the CEO of Peter Pan Bus Line of attempting to influence Vieau. Restaurateur Any Yee is the other co-owner.
On the invitation there is no mention of Picknelly as the host in any other capacity. The invitation suggested three levels of donations: $125, $250 and $500.
Morissette used the fundraiser as a way to criticize what he saw as Vieau’s stance on the east-west commuter rail issue, which in the past Picknelly has not supported.
According to the Morissette release, “East-West rail is an issue many City Councils and Select boards have taken an interest in formally voicing support for over the years, but under Vieau’s leadership as Council President, Chicopee has been noticeably absent. ‘I’m disappointed in John,’ said Morissette. ‘And what’s worse is he can’t even hold the event in Chicopee. He should cancel the event.’”
Vieau did not cancel the event, but he did release a comment.
“I’m deeply disappointed in my opponent. I have respect for differences between candidates, and viewpoints about how to move Chicopee forward. My opponent, however, has apparently chosen another path. It is my commitment to the people of Chicopee to run a positive, high road campaign with integrity. The people of Chicopee deserve nothing less from candidates seeking the City’s highest office.”
In the release Vieau noted, “that he has never met Picknelly, and contrary to Morissette’s claim, it is not a closed-door event.”
Vieau said, “I want to be very clear about the facts. I’ve never met Mr. Picknelly, and he is not hosting my campaign event. The reason I’m holding this event at The Fort restaurant, supported by many Chicopee residents, is because of my respect for the Yee family – who has had a longstanding presence in the community for decades. I have known the Yees for many years, through their family business of nearly 60 years, and their charitable golf tournament held in honor of Johnny Yee – which raised $200,000 of scholarship money for Chicopee students.”