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| By Paula Canning Staff Writer HOLYOKE Spurred into action by Mayor Michael Sullivan's signing of the controversial 20-year contract with Aquarion Operating Services to control and upgrade the city's sewer system, Ward 6 City Councilor Mark Lubold has taken out papers to challenge Sullivan for the city's top position. Lubold, a mechanical engineer who runs General Machine Inc. on Jackson Street, said that he has been contemplating a run for mayor for "quite some time," but was inspired a few weeks ago to seek the position when Sullivan signed the $178 million contract. Lubold, along with several other city councilors, disagree with Sullivan that the company will run the city's waste-water treatment center with more efficiency and at a lower cost than the city could. "I oppose the contract based on the financial analysis that I completely disagree with, and also because the [contract] binds rate payers to an automatic increase in costs for the next 20 years," Lubold said. Lubold said that, if elected mayor, he would terminate the contract immediately. Lubold also took out papers for his current position, Ward 6 Councilor, but told Reminder Publications that he has made the decision to run for mayor. Because Lubold joins mayoral candidate Joseph McCormick in challenging Sullivan, a preliminary election will take place on Oct. 11 to narrow down the ballot to two candidates for the Nov. 8 election. Although it was the Aquarion issue that inspired him to seek the ballot for mayor, Lubold said that,the show of support he has already witnessed in response to his decision is not based on where he stands on the issue, but personality characteristics that render him an effective leader. "What has really touched me the most is what people have to say about why they like me as a candidate," Lubold said. He explained that this praise includes appreciation for his honesty, his ability to "truly listen" to his constituents, and the way in which he researches both sides of an issue extensively before forming an opinion. "If that's what people are looking for, than that's what I can bring," he said. According to Lubold, serving as a city councilor has well-prepared him for the position he is seeking, affording him a clear understanding of the inner workings of city government. In addition, he said that, serving as a city councilor has allowed him to "work with a number of different department heads, dive right into important issues, and work with the city's constituents. As a business owner with a Masters of Business Administration (MBA), Lubold said his candidacy offers the added benefit of someone who knows how to run a business. As a business owner, Lubold said he has learned how to operate in a "customer focused," manner, a philosophy that he said has spilled over into his political career. "Even as a city councilor, I've always tried to be constituent focused," he said. "It's the constituents who pay the taxes that's the frame of mind we should have." Lubold said that he will unveil his platform on a host of other issues during his campaign kick-off event, scheduled for August 11. |