Clambake steams up mayoral races
Date: 8/22/2011
Aug. 22, 2011By G. Michael Dobbs and Katelyn Gendron
AGAWAM — Without races for governor, the Senate or the House looming this November, one might have thought the annual clambake fund-raiser thrown by Hampden County Sheriff Michael Ashe at the Six Flags picnic grove last week might have been a bit sedated. The event, however, was far from it.
With several hotly contested mayoral races in the region, besides elections for city councils and school committees, there was plenty going on at the event that was designed for political junkies.
Where else can people sit around all day eating and drinking while being courted by candidates? Where else can candidates find a receptive audience for campaigning? And where else can reporters find so many politically minded people so willing to talk?
Although Gov. Deval Patrick and Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray did not attend at the time
Reminder Publications reporters were at the event, Secretary of State William Galvin was there as well as Treasurer Stephen Grossman.
Neither official was running for anything, but were engaging in the currency of politics — shaking hands, meeting people and talking, activities perfectly facilitated by the clambake.
With casino gambling once again on the legislative horizon this fall, Grossman said he is supportive of three destination resort casinos only because they could generate $400,000 more in revenue for the Commonwealth and create 15,000 jobs. He said he realizes casinos will have an impact on the state lottery, but he believes the trade-off will be positive for Massachusetts overall.
He is working on a plan to address a possible legalization of Internet gambling as members of Congress are looking into the same. He believes Internet gaming could more directly affect the $885 million profit the state sees from the lottery and he wants to be able to protect the lottery as much as possible.
The fiscal health of the state and how that impacts local communities has been an on-going concern for many of the people who attended the clam bake.
State Sen. Michael Knapik described the state’s ongoing financial dilemma as one that is likely to continue in fiscal year 2013 (FY13).
“We have no choice but to be lean and mean,” he said of budget cuts necessary in order to cover the government’s fixed costs.
“We need to be at 6 percent unemployment to be out of this crisis,” Knapik added, noting that the state’s unemployment rate hovers over the 8 percent mark.
Knapik said casino gaming would likely be passed as a means for increasing jobs in the Commonwealth; however, it would “not have the grand impact” once thought because legislators have waited too long to pass legislation permitting gaming.
He noted that some financial relief would be coming to municipalities in the near future with the distribution of the $65 million in lottery aid.
“We’re believing that it will help. Westfield could see $400,000 to $500,000 [in lottery monies]. Every municipality is on the edge [financially],” Knapik said.
State Sen. James Welch called budgetary constraints a challenge especially when municipalities in his district are still trying to recover from the June 1 tornado.
“We’re certainly going to try to get more money to rebuild,” he said. “We need to make sure those communities are not forgotten.”
Welch called recent investments in economic development, the state’s green technologies and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) as “the next wave” boosting industry and finance throughout the Commonwealth.
“We haven’t had our head in the sand. We’re keeping one eye on the future,” he said.
Two of the candidates for the top job in Holyoke were at the clambake. Incumbent Mayor Elaine Pluta said she is running on her track record of accomplishments. She pointed out her efforts in business development and advances in education are coming to fruition.
Noting the construction of the state’s High Speed Green Computing Center and the renewed interest in the city, Pluta declared, “Things are going great.”
Despite a crowded field in the race, Pluta said she, as usual, would run an issue-oriented campaign. She would not engage in any “personal attacks.”
One of her opponents, Alex Morse, was also at the clambake and said with 35 days left to the primary, his campaign is staying positive.
Morse said his efforts to be Holyoke’s next mayor have been the most active and he has been going door-to-door to win votes.
What he has been hearing from people is the importance of three issues: public safety, jobs and education.
Morse said the next mayor “needs to change the perspective people have [of Holyoke] to bring business back to the city.”
He is looking forward to the first candidate forum on Sept. 8.
Agawam Mayor Richard Cohen and mayoral candidate Rosemary Sandlin, former state representative of the 3rd Hampden District — two of the three candidates, which also includes Walter Meissner III — took the clambake as an opportunity to speak about transparency in government. While they shared a common phrase, the two had a different philosophy surrounding its meaning.
“I want to bring transparency back into government. I want to put the checkbook online,” Sandlin said, noting that other municipalities have done the same.
Cohen maintained that his administration has been transparent from the start. “I have an open door policy. It’s the people who elect me and it’s the people who I serve,” he added.
The mayor said he plans to run for re-election based on his record, highlighting Agawam’s low tax rate, free weekly trash pickup, the district’s strong education system and facility maintenance and building plans.
Cohen noted the FY12 budget cycle was one of hardship felt by all, specifically with the addition of student activity fees and high school parking costs but that “it’s a necessary evil” in these difficult economic times.
When asked if she agreed with the addition of fees, Sandlin replied, “Fees are not my favorite way of going. When we’ve got one fee, then it opens the door for more fees.”
She maintained that a search committee was not needed to replace the former school superintendent, Mary Czajkowski, as Interim Superintendent William Sapelli has already hit the ground running. “Bill has been trained for the job. We don’t need to go out and search for someone when we already have someone here who’s qualified,” Sandlin said.
Chicopee will have a mayoral contest as well with restaurateur Gary R. Lefebvre, the owner of Gary & Nancy’s Place, facing incumbent Michael Bissonnette.
Bissonnette said he would be happy to meet with Lefebvre in forums.
“Public debate is good. I’m interested to hear his ideas to better Chicopee,” Bissonnette said.
Perhaps the race that is getting the most attention — certainly in the last few days — has been the Springfield mayoral race. While these reporters attended the clambake, neither mayoral candidates City Council President Jose Tosado nor Mayor Domenic Sarno were present, but candidate and School Committee member Antonette Pepe was.
Pepe believes the revelations concerning School Superintendent Dr. Alan Ingram’s contract and his resignation will hurt Sarno at the polls. Sarno has steadily defended the embattled superintendent.
She criticized Sarno for the lack of transparency in his administration and dismissed charges that her concerns about Sarno and Ingram are simply politics.
“When you hold someone accountable, it’s not political,” she said. “That’s what politicians use a scapegoat for their own failure.”
