Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 9/25/2019
CHICOPEE – Voters in Chicopee will have a choice on the ballot to select a newcomer to politics or a seasoned veteran.
City Council John Vieau and Chicopee Comprehensive High School Vice Principal and former police officer D. Joseph Morissette were the top two candidates out of a field of four.
Both men told Reminder Publishing that they would continue their campaigns and messages until Nov. 5.
There was a better turnout for the preliminary election in Chicopee than there had been in Springfield, with 16.48 percent of the voters participating.
Vieau received 2,725 votes, Morissette won 1,749 votes, former Mayor Michael Bissonnette had 1,351 votes and business owner Angela P. Breault-Klusman had 184 supporters.
Although several pundits said off the record they had expected to seem former Mayor Michael Bissonnette come to one of the top two slots, Bissonnette came in third.
On election night Vieau called the results a “sweet victory.” He added, “Team Vieau really worked hard to get the message out.”
He said he had kept his campaign a positive one. “I had no idea what was going to happen. Voters in Chicopee are hard to read, but they don’t like negativity,” Vieau noted.
“I will continue to campaign hard to get my message out,” he said.
Morissette said he was feeling “very excited” by his placement on the ballot. He called Vieau and “honorable man.”
Morissette noted that he was going to have a strategy session to determine the continued direction of his campaign and added that he wants to address the issue of adequate funding for city services such as public safety. He asserted “people are leaving cities in droves” and that it’s difficult to recruit candidates for openings in the police department.
He plans to “get out an talk to voters … knock on doors and call on people.”
Vieau and Morissette said they were both willing to debate for the Nov. 5 election.
On Sept. 20, Bissonnette posted on his Facebook page, “Campaign Update 2019 – thanks again to everyone for their support and for the opportunity to try and make a difference in the community we all call home.
“While I have both won and lost elections before (and make no mistake, winning is much better!) I find a great deal of optimism in the fact that 55 percent of the turnout voted against the Kos/Vieau style of governing. Hardly an endorsement of his chances in November.
“What is disturbing is that I am told (by several who were there) that Mr. Vieau took his win Tuesday as a chance to personally attack me by making disparaging remarks in front of his supporters. Sorry John but that merely shows how classless Chicopee politics can be. .
“More on that issue later but – is that what we really want in a mayor?
“On the other hand, I had the opportunity to speak with Joe Morissette on election night and look forward to speaking with him again soon. Team Chicopee and our entire community has a huge stake in seeing this city get back on the right track…As for professionally, I am back in court next week and will be taking new legal clients again beginning in October. I would be happy to schedule an appointment with you to discuss any legal issues you may have.
“As you might suspect, I will also be commenting politically as the November 5 election gets closer. Thanks to all who are running and to all of you for caring about Chicopee’s future. Best regards and warm thanks, Mike”
Conventional political wisdom would indicate that if Bissonnette supporters support Morissette, he would be able to effectively challenge Vieau. The wild card, of course is the more than 80 percent of the registered voters who did not cast a ballot in the preliminary.
Breault-Klusman commented on Sept. 20, “Here’s what I am thinking, I will never ever give up on our city but I need everyone’s help within the next 48 days to make my name known and get the community to vote for me! I am the voice of our residents; I want our community more involved, so I am leaving this here! If you want the change and you want me to be mayor I need your help! Stop listening to your friends and your family! Listen to the community. Let’s get our city back, Chicopee with you helping and you campaigning for it!”
She followed that comment with another on Sept. 21. “I am very thankful for all who had voted for me and who has helped me in this new chapter of my life! Next week a decision will be made on what’s next for me. I love our community and just want the voices of our community heard and them have more of chance to say what happens in our city!! Love you all, thank you again keep following and sharing!”
Breault-Klusman also questioned why there had been no debates between the four candidates.