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Date: 10/24/2023
HOLYOKE — With the Holyoke city election around the corner on Nov. 7, races in both the City Council and School Committee will be the focus for voters.
In the City Council election there will be some open positions up for the taking both at large and within districts as at-large members and long-time councilors Joseph McGiverin and Peter Tallman — both having served over multiple decades — are not seeking reelection, as well as Ward 2 councilor Will Puello and Council President and Ward 7 Councilor Todd McGee.
Voters can anticipate contested races this year with a decent number of incumbents, newcomers and returning challengers.
The at-large races has current councilors Israel Rivera, Kevin Jourdain, Jose Maldonado Velez and Tessa Murphy-Romboletti all running for reelection.
Former councilors Michael Sullivan, Patricia C. Devine and Howard Greaney will all be seeking a return to the council as candidates in this year’s race, and newcomers Axel Fontanex and current Planning Board Chair Mimi Panitch will look to take on the race for an at large seat.
Rivera has grown in his role with the council during his first term elected and is continuing his pursuit of a master’s degree in public administration while devoting his time to creating change in the city of Holyoke. Incarcerated as a young man over a decade ago, Rivera has taken his experience and used it to fuel a career in public service and giving back to his home. He has been endorsed by Mayor Joshua Garcia.
Incumbent candidate Jourdain has earned a reputation as a “fiscal watchdog” for the city on behalf of taxpayers and is seeking to continue his role with the city. Jourdain has served a total of 13 terms as a member of the council, having been first elected in 1993. He served as council president from 2012-2017.
“I am also proud of my work in the name of government accountability, public safety and the effective delivery of services – especially education – to our residents. I’d like to continue working hard in pursuit of these and other goals on behalf of the citizens of Holyoke as one of their at-large city councilors going forward,” Jourdain said in a statement.
Jourdain added he is proud of his achievements on the council in regard to helping save taxpayer dollars in previous discussions for a new school building, voting in favor of the installation of “Shot Spotter” in the city, and being active in helping the city bring in new businesses and rejuvenate different downtown areas through business. Jourdain has been endorsed by the Holyoke Police Patrolman’s unions #388 and Supervisor’s union #409.
Incumbents Maldonado Velez and Murphy-Romboletti have been progressive voices on the council and have supported issues varying from housing rights to combating community violence, as well as continuing the council’s overall focus of business development in the city.
The race in Ward 7 has already been a topic of discussion in the city as a primary election was needed to narrow the candidates down to two opponents. Ultimately, Meg Magrath-Smith and Eileen Brady Leahy were selected as the two options to fill the ward.
Magrath-Smith won the runoff with 13% of the wards 4,400 eligible voters casting ballots and received 330 votes to Brady-Leahy’s 222. The reason for the runoff came from candidate Stephen Rosenbush joining the race and he received 16 total votes in the primary.
Magrath-Smith is a teacher in Springfield and has experience as chair of the Holyoke CPA Committee and serving on Mayor Joshua Garcia’s transition team. She has been running with the vision of continuing good governance in the city, effectively communicating with constituents and a focus on environmental and green infrastructure.
Leahy is a licensed attorney and has over a decade of experience on both the Conservation Commission and the License Board in Holyoke. Her husband, James Leahy, served on the council for 22 years from 2000 to 2022.
“I have a great background in environmental issues in the city of Holyoke and protecting our green space,” Leahy told Reminder Publishing following the primary. She added she brings experience for communication and negotiation skills while being respectful to those with differing opinions.
Ward 5 will see a rematch between incumbent candidate Linda Vacon and former challenger Guy O’Donnell. O’Donnel came within 16 votes of defeating Vacon in their last matchup.
Vacon has maintained her Ward 5 seat since 2010 and has established herself as one of the council’s mainstays from the conservative side of the aisle. She also has consistently fought for lower taxes for Holyoke residents and has been a prominent leader in creating initiatives that increase public safety through different traffic enforcement projects.
“It’s time for a change in Ward 5,” O’Donnel said in a statement announcing his candidacy earlier this year. “The issues I ran on in 2021 haven’t disappeared, and in some cases have only gotten worse.”
One of these issues O’Donnell noted was the reclaiming of the school district from state receivership, something the current council has seemed to be unanimously agreed on based on discussions. According to the O’Donnell campaign, he looks to champion working families and continue the fight for the children of Holyoke and their future.
In the race for Ward 1, incumbent Jenny Rivera seeks reelection and is matched up against Victor M. Machado De Jesus. Rivera has taken pride in representing Ward 1 and has received Garcia’s endorsement as she runs for reelection.
“She knows her constituents, understands the challenges of her neighborhood and her heart allows her to be an effective advocate for the people,” Garcia said in his endorsement.
Ward 2 will see two new candidates running to fill opening to be left by Puello and features Carmen Yoland Ocasio against Jannelle Mojica. Puello’s political future is uncertain as he faces felony charges in Rhode Island.
Ward 3 sees incumbent David Bartley face off against Anne Thalheimer. Bartley has served six terms and was first elected in 2011 and has been a consistent moderate voice among councilors. Thalheimer in a statement said her goal for the council spot is to make local government more responsive, responsible and respectful through increasing community engagement.
Kocayne Givner is the incumbent in the Ward 4 race and been endorsed by Garcia.
“Kocayne’s public service is a reflection of her values. Safer and cleaner streets, economic and social justice, and quality education. Holyoke needs her leadership and her thoughtful approach to solving the complex challenges we face,” Garcia’s endorsement stated.
Her opponent is Ruth I. Garcia, who has said through her campaign that with her irrepressible work ethic and experience growing up in the city her goal is to truly represent the people of the ward and city.
Ward 6 has incumbent Juan Anderson-Burgos running unopposed.
In the race for School Committee, two candidates face off for the one at-large opening. Incumbent Erin Brunelle has been a driving force for the district in regard to the new school building project and the discussion on leaving state receivership. She faces off against Luissette Arroyo Rosado.
Other School Committee ward races include:
Ward 2: Incumbent Rosalee Tensley Williams running unopposed.
Ward 3: Incumbent Yadilette Rivera Colon running unopposed.
Ward 4: Gloria Caballero Roca and Faizul Johnny Sibdhanny Jr.
Ward 5: Incumbent John Whelihan running unopposed.
Ward 6: Incumbent William Collamore running unopposed.
Ward 7: Incumbent Eleanor Wilson running unopposed.
The Holyoke election will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 7.