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| Gloria DeFilipo By G. Michael Dobbs Managing Editor SPRINGFIELD Gloria DeFilipo may be a newcomer to elected office, but she is no stranger to city politics. She formally announced her candidacy for the City Council last week. The long-time activist has been part of the Pine Point Neighborhood Council for years and is currently serving as its secretary. She has also served as its president. DeFilipo told Reminder Publications last week that she is excited about this group of candidates. She said that while she is not focused on a particular issue, she is running for office so there will be a strong City Council in place when the Finance Control Board leaves the city. DeFilipo is the dean of distance learning at Holyoke Community College. A native of New Jersey, she came to the city to complete her education at Springfield College. She liked the city so much she stayed. She has been a Pine Point resident since 1992. She called Pine Point an "absolutely wonderful neighborhood" that is small enough so people know one another and features a variety of housing. As a member of the Pine Point Neighborhood Council, DeFilipo admitted frustration over decisions made by the City Council. As an advocate for her neighborhood she has made numerous appearances at council meetings and has had the feeling of the council not hearing the wishes of the neighborhood. She is very concerned about the planned economic growth of the city and noted that in an area such as Pine Point residents are concerned with the kind of retail that comes to the neighborhood. She noted that businesses such as liquor stores or used car lots come into the neighborhood and "many times, we're stuck. "We don't have an alternative to offer," she said. She would like the City Council to play a role in working toward a plan developing businesses that complement a neighborhood. "I want to be [on the City Council] to use my experience as a community activist to work between businesses and the neighborhood," she said. She noted that while campaigning many people have asked her if she would support rescinding the trash fee if elected. She said, like many people, she would like to see the trash fee removed, but asked from where the money it generates would come. She noted that as long as the Finance Control Board is in power, the City Council does not have the ability to alter the fee. DeFilipo is also concerned about the perception of the city. She noted that co-workers and others have asked her since she lives in the city if she was afraid. She believes more people must talk positively about Springfield. "We need to put a more positive spin on the city, " she said. Patrick Markey Patrick Markey and his wife Jennifer are bucking the demographic trend. At a time when people are leaving Western Massachusetts, the Markeys made a decision to return to their hometown to follow their careers and raise their family. Markey, a former city solicitor, has announced he is running for City Councilor. He spoke recently with Reminder Publications. Markey's family moved to Springfield from New York City when his father was assigned to Westover Air Force Base when he was eight-years-old. He lived here until age 18 when he left to attend Notre Dame University. A two-year service followed college and Markey attended Georgetown University for law school. Markey worked for four years at the Justice Department under now Gov. Deval Patrick in the civil rights division where he focused on housing and mortgage cases. Although he enjoyed the work, it came with a lot of travel and Markey decided that with a family along the way it was time to seek a new situation. He and his wife Jennifer, who is also a Springfield native, decided to move home and came back to the city in 1997. Markey said he is running because he believes he can make a difference and that "a lot of my life has been about public service." Since coming back to the city, Markey has been city solicitor, served on both the Library Commission and the Retirement Board. He had resigned last year as city solicitor and has resigned from the other two positions since making his announcement as a candidate. He said Mayor Charles Ryan's example has been "quite compelling" to him. "We can complain all we want about poor government, but it rings hollow if we can't step up to help ourselves," he said. He said the Finance Control Board will be leaving and when it does the city will "need councilors who can read a budget and read law so we won't backtrack." Markey said there is still work to be done in streamlining city government. He noted that while city solicitor there were a number of changes made that saved money and increased efficiency. Speaking on the perception that Springfield isn't safe, Markey readily admitted the city has the same problems as many other urban centers, but added, "We need people to be realistic. We hit rock bottom and we're on the rebound." Markey said local small business development is a priority with him and the city needs to improve the permitting process. He said the days of hoping a large "white knight" company will come to save the city are over. With homegrown businesses, the money stays here, he said. Markey would like to increase the size of the code enforcement effort in the city as it would bring in additional funds and improve the housing stock. |