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Date: 6/28/2022
SPRINGFIELD – Six candidates have secured a position on the ballot for the Ward 5 City Council seat.
Background
The seat vacated on May 31 when former City Council President Marcus Williams resigned from office. Williams’ resignation led to City Councilor At-Large Jesse Lederman becoming the new council president. After considering how to fill the vacated position, the council ultimately agreed on hosting a special election after state Rep. Angelo Puppolo’s Home Rule Petition legislation was signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker on May 16.
During a brief June 8 special meeting, the council shared that a preliminary election for the Ward 5 seat will occur on Aug. 16 if there are more than two candidates. The special election will then take place on Sept. 13.
Ellen Moorhouse
Communications Director of the Women’s Funding Network Ellen Moorhouse was the first candidate to gain sufficient signatures after pulling nomination papers on June 10. She was officially placed on the ballot on June 14.
As a candidate, Moorhouse intends to prioritize local street safety and quality of life issues for residents, support economic and workforce development initiatives, decrease blight and fill empty storefronts and to work with residents to reduce area crime and litter, according to her press release.
“For me, this race is all about centering the needs and voices of residents and voters in our local politics. I am serious about representing the voters of Ward 5 and am committed to working hard to ensure everyone feels heard, and that local issues are brought to the forefront that we can tackle together,” said Moorhouse in her official statement.
Moorhouse was born and raised in the Springfield area. She aspires to leave a “lasting difference” if elected to the Ward 5 seat.
“We can make a lasting difference for all of Springfield starting right here in our own backyard,” said Moorhouse.
Lamar Cook
Former 2015 City Council At-Large and 2017 School Committee candidate Lamar Cook announced his campaign for the Ward 5 seat on June 10. He was then placed officially on the ballot on June 15. In his announcement, Cook expressed his excitement to serve the city of Springfield.
“I am excited to pursue this opportunity to serve our great city. Springfield has so much about it that makes it special. It is a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. I would be honored to help advance Springfield to even greater heights,” said Cook.
If elected, Cook said he will focus on infrastructure, traffic, community safety, responsible budgeting and increasing tourism.
“With a hospitality background, increasing tourism is something I am truly passionate about and just overall innovation. Municipal internet, Wi-Fi, things like that I think Springfield should have. It benefits the entire city,” said Cook in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
Cook is a Springfield resident and a graduate of Western New England University. He also serves as the director of business operations for the new American Basketball Association (ABA) franchise 413 Elite.
Lavar Click-Bruce
Mayoral Aide Lavar Click-Bruce announced his candidacy for the vacant Ward 5 City Council position on June 9 and was officially placed on the ballot on June 16. Before working under Mayor Domenic Sarno, Click-Bruce served as an administrative aide to the City Council. He also worked as the executive director of the Dunbar Community Center.
“This is a perfect opportunity for me to continue to serve the city and community I love so deeply. When you combine my career in youth development, my experience as the aide to the council and my current position as an aide to the mayor, of which I have learned the ins and outs of municipal government firsthand, it makes me uniquely qualified to serve on the council,” said Click-Bruce in his announcement.
Click-Bruce grew up in the Springfield area and graduated from Springfield High School of Commerce. He currently serves as the head coach for the high school’s men’s basketball team.
“I’m a proud product of the Springfield Public Schools and now am a father of children in our public schools. This means I have an inherent, strong and vested interest in the future of our city. I look forward to speaking to the residents and voters of Ward 5 to hear directly from them on the needs of our community and city as a whole,” said Click-Bruce.
In his announcement, Click-Bruce also highlighted the future of a rumored candidate, School Committee member At-Large LaTonia Naylor. Ultimately, Naylor opted not to run for the position, instead issuing her endorsement for Click-Bruce’s candidacy.
“I took a hard look at the opportunity but decided against it and one of the factors was that Lavar was going to run. Lavar is just such a great person, father, community member and leader. I have the utmost faith in him to represent Ward 5 on the City Council with integrity, dedication, transparency and a vision for our city that I share as well. I fully support Lavar,” said Naylor in the press release.
Nicole Coakley
Assistant Director of the Center for Service and Leadership at Springfield College Nicole Coakley submitted sufficient signatures on June 17 after gathering nomination papers on June 8. Coakley said she was inspired to run as a non-traditional politician.
“I am not a politician. I am just your ordinary community member that has seen a lot. Anytime I see something, I want to help out and make things better…I am a strong advocate when it comes to making change and I am running because I care. I want to make sure our community has a voice at the table,” said Coakley in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
If elected, Coakley said she wants to continue her work in ensuring equity for the city’s disenfranchised populous.
“I want to continue the fight for the right of disenfranchised classes like women and the BIPOC [Black, Indigenous and People of Color] community…I want to make sure we all have a fair chance when it comes to utilizing resources within our community,” said Coakley.
Coakley currently serves as commissioner of the Hampden County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls and the Western Mass. Regional Board of Easter Seals.
Edward Collins Jr.
Former Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees at University of Massachusetts Edward Collins Jr. secured his place on the Ward 5 ballot on June 22. Collins said running for City Council remained a lingering interest of his over the years.
“These opportunities don’t come along every day and it’s something that I’ve had an interest in for a long time…I thought seriously about running for the open Ward 5 seat once former City Councilor Clodo Concepcion [left in 2015]. When the seat came open again, I got calls from some friends, including a city councilor, who sort urged me to think about it,” said Collins in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
Collins highlighted his desire to provide “practical analysis” to some of the problems facing the city. He noted that he will be detailed in approaching the city’s budget and unfunded pension liability.
“I’ve had a lot of experience doing that. I know how to spot things in a budget that are camouflage and are really fluff…Rainy days will come and we ought to have adequate resources put aside,” said Collins.
Collins shared that he has lived in Springfield most of his life after moving to the Sixteen Acers in 1971. He also served as the international representative for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Mike Lee
Former 2021 City Council At-Large candidate Mike Lee secured sufficient signatures on June 24 to earn a place on the ballot. Lee formerly served as a corrections officer at the Hampden County House of Corrections.
In an interview with Reminder Publishing during his 2021 campaign, Lee discussed his background as a lifelong Springfield resident. He also highlighted his goals of addressing quality of life issues and reforming police work.
“Reform is great. If officers go through the jail system like I did, they might see a better view of the people they are dealing with…We just need a better system and I think we can all come together and do that. I am going to push for that,” said Lee. The City Council candidate also advocated for the police to receive additional funding to address underlying issues like illegal dirt bike activity and opioid addiction.
Lee also envisions continual growth for Springfield.
“I think the city of Springfield can be a real mecca…We were close to that before COVID-19 hit, but I think it’s coming again,” said Lee.