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Date: 8/31/2022
SPRINGFIELD – Engineer in the telecommunications industry and Springfield Restaurant Week Committee Chair Juan F. Latorre III announced his bid for a City Council at-large seat in the 2023 election. Latorre kicked off his campaign with a fundraising event at The Student Prince on Aug. 17.
Latorre III previously ran for an at-large seat during the 2021 election. In a competitive 10 candidate field, Latorre finished in seventh in the race for five available seats. He promised supporters that the 2021 campaign was not the end of his City Council candidacy.
“I walked away so inspired from what I learned about the city … That night in November 2021, I pledged to my supporters that I would run again,” said Latorre III in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
He said his experiences canvasing with voters and learning the campaign process helped informed his decision to announce his election bid over a year ahead of the Nov. 2023 election.
“Now that I’ve had to run through one cycle and got to see what the other candidates, particularly those already in the City Council, have done…the fact is, they never stop campaigning. Their public advocacy goes year-round, their fundraising goes year-round … it’s important for my campaign and my committee to take those same steps,” said Latorre III.
Latorre III shared that over the past two years, he remained entrenched in the ongoing activities of the City Council. He said he closely follows each meeting, participates in neighborhood council meetings and regularly attends civic events.
“The work has not stopped for me,” said Latorre III.
Latorre III’s fundraising event gathered community leaders as co-hosts, including Attorney Ellen Freyman, local entrepreneur Ray Berry and New Valley Bank CEO Jeff Sullivan. The candidate said connecting with local leaders has helped him greater understand the needs of Springfield.
One of the candidate’s central issues is improving business dynamics. Latorre III believes the council should be “more welcoming” to businesses.
“We don’t need to be a rubber stamp … We need to let it be known to our businesses that we are a welcoming community, and we value their investments,” he said.
Latorre III considers the city’s commercial tax rate, which ranks as the fourth highest in the state, as an essential reason for fortifying business ties in the community. He also does not believe it is fair that some business proposals are “roped into” citywide debates rather than being judged for their specific merits.
“When that happens, this can potentially leave a bad taste in the mouth of a developer, an investor or a small business owner,” said Latorre III.
Other issues Latorre III will spotlight in his campaign include improving neighborhood infrastructures, rising property tax rates and public safety. He stressed that quality of life issues, like road conditions, are essential to enhance before dealing with grander municipal proposals.
“I would like to see more investment in our neighborhoods … All too often, the sidewalks may not be fully repaired. The crosswalks may be faint or non-existent, and there’s a real absence of speed-countering measures,” said Latorre III.
From a public safety perspective, Latorre III said the city is entering a critical juncture with the recent implementation of a Police Commission from the Department of Justice’s consent decree. He wants the Police Department to “maximize its effectiveness” by receiving necessary support from the city and the public.
“The nature of public safety is changing and [the police] need to be provided the tools necessary to be successful with every call,” said Latorre III.
Latorre III is continuing his fundraising efforts with an event at the Thomas J. Sullivan Banquet Hall at Nathan Bill’s Bar and Restaurant on Sept. 8. The event runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Readers can learn more about Latorre III’s platform at https://www.votelatorre.com/.