Puppolo thanks voters after his win

By Levon Kinney

Staff Intern

Angelo Puppolo would like to thank the voters in Hampden County's 12th district for electing him over Christopher Leisey to be the next State Representative. Puppolo carried East Longmeadow and Springfield, while Leisey won in his hometown of Wilbraham.

"I am very happy but also very humbled that the voters in the twelfth district chose me to be their representative," Puppolo said.

Approximately 30 friends and family members gathered at his campaign office at Bicentennial Plaza on Allen Street in Springfield to congratulate Puppolo.

Serving for the last nine years as a member of the Springfield City Council, Puppolo will step down on Jan. 3, with James Ferrara filling the position.

"I have a history of being an independent leader and someone who is not afraid to take on the tough issues," Puppolo said, who is also an attorney and small businessman.

Some of the issues he plans to address while in office are jobs and economic development, working for more local aid for the district, education, and serving the constituents of the district.

"I look forward to being a true representative for all the people of the twelfth Hampden District." Puppolo said.

Leisey, accompanied by his daughter Katarina and 20 other constituents at Gregory's Pizza Pub in Wilbraham, were in high spirits. "I appreciated meeting everybody and it was an eye opener to learn about the district and the people who have great ideas about their government." He went on to add, "I am ruling nothing out for the future."

Puppolo replaces State Representative Gale Candaras (D-Wilbraham) who ran and won for a seat on the State Senate.