Challengers enter election citing lackluster corner office

Date: 7/21/2009

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



WESTFIELD -- Two candidates, citing a lackluster performance from first-term Mayor Michael Boulanger, will challenge him for the corner office at City Hall this November.

Ward 2 City Councilor Daniel Knapik and Westfield resident Gaetana Aliotta, founder of the Cancer House of Hope, have announced that they will attempt to overtake Boulanger as the city's executive leader.

"I've been on the [City] Council for eight years and am advocate of moving the city forward ... I simply felt that this particular time that the present administration can't do that," Knapik told Reminder Publications. "I got into this race to give the people a choice as someone with a proven track record [of] fiscal accountability on the Council.

"We need strong, proven leadership in the mayor's office that can bring [progress] to fruition," he continued. "You have to have an incredible focus [to get things accomplished in city government]. I can't do anymore as a councilor, [which is why I've chosen to run for mayor]."

Knapik added he believes that industrial development is the surest way for the city to claw its way out of its fiscal crises and market Westfield as "an attractive place for the jobs of tomorrow."

Aliotta's primary concern is the betterment of the Westfield Public School system in light of the Moseley Elementary School closure and the latest budget cuts.

"There was inadequate communication with, and involvement of, the parents in the school reshuffling process which has closed Moseley Elementary, and reshuffled two grades of Juniper Park [Elementary School] students at South Middle School," she said. "If there had been open communication through the idea stages, the unfortunate loss of Juniper Park could have been an opportunity to build trust and confidence in the Westfield Public School system. Instead, a serious conflict occurred between our children's main champions -- the parents and the schools.

"As mayor, I will direct the school administration to involve all parties -- parents, teachers, and students, when appropriate -- in these types of matters that affect our children and our neighborhoods," she continued. "And, of course, I will be willing and available to facilitate well-conceived solutions."

Boulanger disagreed with his challengers' negative assessment of his term, however.

"I'm very pleased with how things have gone with the first term," he said, adding that much progress has already been made.

"Downtown redevelopment has a lot of inertia right now with [Westfield State] College's [involvement] and master plan nearing completion," he added. "We're going gangbusters with downtown [revitalization] efforts."

Boulanger said he is running for re-election because he enjoys the challenges of the job as well as having "a positive impact on the city."

"What I like about being the mayor is it's very much like [my previous career] being a wing commander or lieutenant colonel in the Air Force you really have a day to day impact on people's lives," he explained. "This is where the rubber meets the road."

Boulanger noted that he has many irons in the fire, including the establishment of an animal shelter, a centralized emergency dispatch and the multimodal transportation center.

Boulanger noted that during his term he's improved "transparency and communication between department heads," instituted a system of employee evaluation and submitted two balanced budgets.

He said he's looking forward to upcoming debates and all the challenges ahead.

"I think it's an open field and the citizens of Westfield deserve choices," Boulanger added.