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| By Michelle Kealey Staff Writer WESTFIELD Former Channel 40 meteorologist Jason Russell loves his community and has decided to run for the Ward 6 position on the City Council. "I feel as though I offer a different option to the people in Westfield," he said. "I am not part of the establishment." He said that he wanted to run for City Council two years ago, but the television station attorneys said that he could not run and cited equal time as the reason. Russell explained that the station would have had to extend the same amount of air time to any other candidate who was running for that position as he had. Russell, who left Channel 40 in April after seven years, currently works for Merck as a pharmaceutical representative. "Waking up at 2:45 a.m. every day was getting pretty tough," he said about his job as a meteorologist. "I have three small children and virtually no life." Prior to becoming a meteorologist, Russell was in sales. Although Russell does not currently work as a meteorologist, his campaign slogan is "Forecasting a sunny future for Westfield." He has been part of the Westfield community for eight years and lives in the city with his wife of 12 years and three young children, who are five, three and one. Russell said that he has a "vested interest in Westfield." He added that his oldest child is going into kindergarten this year. "We love Westfield. We have a great neighborhood. This is where we want our kids to grow up," he said. He added that he believes he offers a completely "new face" and "new attitude." Russell said that he has never held a political position and this is his "first shot" at running. "I am going to run a positive campaign," he said, adding that he had never met any of the other three candidates for the Ward 6 position. "I am sure they all have their strengths, but my goal is to talk about all the issues my neighbors feel are important," he said. Russell said that he has a Six E Plan for Ward 6. His plan includes: 1. Education: Support high quality public education for our schools. 2. Emergency Services: Maintain first-rate police, fire and medical services to Ward 6. 3. Emergency Management: Implement an appropriate action plan for hazardous material and disaster issues near the Mass. Pike and Westfield Barnes Airport. 4. Environment: Protect the delicate balance between commercial/residential development and the environment. 5. Economic Development: Develop high standards for new commerce. 6. East Mountain Road Sidewalk: It's time. Russell said that he hopes to invite all of the other candidates to a "meet the candidates evening" in which members of the community can gather and talk with the candidates about their concerns and issues in the city. "That's what I envision," he said. In addition to a candidates' night, Russell said that he will be conducting many standouts at some of the major intersections in the city, such as near Hampton Ponds, Route 20 and East Mountain Road. He also plans to do a lot of door-to-door campaigning. "I think that will be really important, especially since there are four people on the ticket for Ward 6," he said. "It's good. It's crazy [and] it will be a lot of work. I am just going to have fun with it." Russell said that he hopes the time he spent on television as a meteorologist will help with his campaign. "I hope people have come to trust me by what they saw on T.V.," he said. "I am a normal guy. What you see on T.V. is what you get in person, which is straightforward." He added that if he blew the forecast, he would own up to it. "Hopefully that will help," he said. Russell will face Ward 6 candidates James Laverty (incumbent), Joseph Spagnoli and Matthew Roman in a preliminary election on Sept. 27. For more information about Russell, visit his campaign website at www.russellforwestfield.com. |