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Date: 9/19/2023
SPRINGFIELD — Mayor Domenic Sarno parlayed an Election Day water main break into an opportunity to showcase his “battle tested” administration. That mettle figures to be tested again leading up to the city’s Nov. 7 election.
Sarno and City Councilor Justin Hurst, who has run an aggressive campaign and has been highly critical of the mayor both inside the council chambers and on the campaign trail, were the top vote-getters in a five-candidate race for the Sept. 12 preliminary election that whittled the field to two finalists. Sarno was the top vote getter with roughly 48% of the vote. Hurst finished a comfortable second with nearly 29%. State Rep. Orlando Ramos (D-Springfield) was third with 13.6%, while City Council President Jesse Lederman garnered 9%. David Ciampi was a distant last, failing to clear 1%.
Of the 110,399 registered voters in Springfield, 14,966 people cast ballots. The total voter turnout was 13.56%, which is almost double that of the 2019 election turnout of 7.62%, and in 2015, 7.12%. It did, however, fall short of the 2011 preliminary election turnout which was 14.71%.
The mayor suspended his election night gathering at his Sixteen Acres campaign headquarters to meet with personnel including Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris, Superintendent of Schools Daniel Warwick, Fire Commissioner BJ Calvi and Springfield Water and Sewer Commission Executive Director Joshua Schimmel and conducted an impromptu press conference to update residents and businesses on the status of water in the city following the loss of a 36-inch main that disrupted service to large portions of the city and surrounding communities.
Afterward, he spoke to the media about his experience in handling adverse situations —referencing the EF-3 tornado that ripped through the city in June 2011 and the October 2011 nor’easter snowstorm that crippled the area, the 2012 Worthington Street gas explosion and the coronavirus pandemic — and opined that his “resounding victory” reflected the citizens of Springfield’s “continued belief and confidence in my abilities.”
Sarno, who regularly repeated the “battle tested” mantra that has been a hallmark of his campaign to this point, said the water main situation taking the place in the midst of his Election Day campaigning illustrated the nature of the position. “You can see how things pivot very quickly,” he said, later stating, “Only mayors know what he or she go through.”
He added Election Day campaigning became a secondary concern to the water issue once it arose.
“I still have a city I have to run … that is always my No. 1 priority and then you let the chips fall where they may,” he said. “The chips fell very well tonight.”
On connecting with voters who supported other candidates before the Nov. 7 election, Sarno said, “I can understand that some individuals might feel strongly or have friendships or relationships with the other candidates. I respect that; I have the same thing on my side with loyalty and people who are confident in my abilities. Now a few [candidates] have gone by the wayside and I welcome [their supporters] to take a second look at my campaign, take a second look at my record and I’d love to have you come on board as we continue to move the city of Springfield forward. I know I can’t make everybody happy but if you base your decisions on good government, nine out of 10 people will get it at that point in time.”
This was the first time in a preliminary election that Sarno as the incumbent has not carried more than 50% of the vote. In 2019, he received 5,550 votes which was 76.52%. In 2015, he received 5,067 votes, which was 75.23% and in 2011, 8,271 votes or 60.15%.
However, when it comes to the challenge presented by Hurst, Sarno said, “We’ll be ready to go. I worry about my campaign. We have a good, proven track record, we’ve been battle tested, we have a good administration on the field. I worry about running the city, number one … and then I don’t worry about anybody else’s campaign, and I look forward to bringing the people together as we move forward.”
Hurst
Hurst hosted a watch party at Marlee’s Bar and Grill on Boston Road. At exactly 9 p.m., the vote tallies revealed his great lead, at which time he entered the building with his wife, Denise, and two sons, Justin Jr. and Jackson.
Hurst made his way through the party, hugging family, friends and supporters, while the intense sounds of clapping and cheering filled the space. As the noise settled, Hurst began his remarks by saying, “My colleague on the council, Jesse Lederman, ran a heck of a campaign … My former colleague on the council, state [Rep.] Orlando Ramos, also ran a heck of a race and deserves a round of applause.”
He continued, “We also want to congratulate the mayor who won … today. We’re gracious — it’s not to say we’re not coming for him — but we also want to congratulate him on his victory.”
Hurst recognized several in attendance including incumbent City Councilor at-Large Tracye Whitfield, who has been an avid supporter throughout his campaign, along with City Council at-large candidates Charles Stokes and Lynell Gasque who he said ran a good race. “More importantly you all believed in my race more than you believed in your own,” Hurst shared.
He thanked his parents for paving the way for this victory, his brother and sister-in-law, and his wife and children.
A message that Hurst has for his sons is, “Anything is possible if you put your heart and soul into it.”
He said, “We said when we started this campaign it was ‘we over me.’ If we want to change the trajectory over Springfield it is ‘we over me.’ If we want a Springfield that works for all of us, then it is ‘we over me.’ If we want a Springfield where we invest in our young people and make sure they have a first-class education, then it’s ‘we over me.’ If we want a Springfield that we can be proud of, that we take pride in, where our parks are clean, [our] kids have places to play, then ‘we over me’ is what has to happen. If we want a mayor of Springfield that actually has a comprehensive plan to address gun violence, then ‘we over me’ is how we make it happen.”
Hurst noted that this campaign is “people-powered” and the victory he had is because of everyone that put their heart and soul into making sure that people came out and voted.
“We pulled off today a feat because we worked our rear ends off,” he said. This included door knocking, making phone calls, giving rides and believing that a better Springfield is possible.
With less than 60 days until the general election, Whitfield shouted, “No rest,” and Hurst added, “Tomorrow we have to work.”
“It is our time,” was chanted repeatedly by Hurst and his supporters.
Following the celebratory speech, Hurst told the media that there are many pressing issues he believes motivated voters including crime, taxes, the trash fee, housing and investing in young people to have a first-class education, which he said he has a plan for.
When asked about how he plans to connect with the voters who supported other candidates and make sure his message resonates with the population, he said, “I believe we are very similar. I believe we were similar from the start. I don’t believe we were too far apart in our vision. I believe that they will see a lot of what it is that I believe in resonating with their supporters and my hope is that we get the support of those candidates as well, but we’ll see what happens. Certainly, we want the support of their supporters for sure.”
Ramos
Reminder Publishing attended Ramos’ watch party at Solmar Restaurant and Pub in Indian Orchard, however, Ramos did not make an appearance, nor did he respond to a request for comment as of press time.
Lederman
Lederman told Reminder Publishing that during the campaign, he found an electorate that felt disengaged and disconnected from its government.
“I think that people in the city of Springfield really struggled to believe not only that local government is working for them but that it really can work for them and I think we’re going to see that in the real final numbers that come out here tonight,” he said, adding his campaign was focused on ideas and engagement.
In his concession speech, Lederman characterized the challenge of running against Springfield’s “political machine” while reflecting on his reason for running for mayor rather than seeking another term on the City Council. He admitted many encouraged him to pursue the reelection route in discussions that preceded his run for mayor, a move he said would have made him “a part of that political machine.”
“To do that would have been a betrayal of the values and the work that we all hold so dear. It would have been something that I could not have thought back to the great mentors and the great allies that have worked with us,” he said, naming deceased influences such as social activist Michaelann Bewsee, civil rights activist and former City Councilor E. Henry Twiggs, former state Rep. Dave Vigneault and late community organizer Jafet Robles. “They would have wanted us to fight. They would have wanted us to raise the issues that we raised and tonight they would not want us to give up. They would want us to keep on fighting, to keep on serving the city of Springfield.”
Lederman assured supporters that he would continue to serve the city, but was noncommittal when asked by Reminder Publishing what that service would entail.
“I’ve dedicated my entire life to service to the city of Springfield because it’s the city that raised me. Certainly, serving as an at-large city councilor for three terms, now as president of the City Council, really has been the honor of a lifetime and I’m really proud of what we accomplished on the City Council,” he said. “We have been able to deliver on every commitment that I’ve made to individuals during my City Council campaigns. We have four more months of our fall term and I intend to continue our legislative agenda there. Certainly, public service is something that has been embedded in me from a young age and it is something I intend to continue to [do] in whatever form it presents itself.”
When asked if he intends to support Sarno’s challenger in the Nov. 7 election, Lederman said, “Tonight is about thanking our campaign, thanking the people who helped us run a campaign I am proud of and reflecting on the work that we have accomplished together.”
Ciampi
Ciampi, who only received 93 votes, told Reminder Publishing that he was disappointed as to where he finished in the race.
“I thought I would have done better … I put my all into this,” he said.
He continued, “The pie was being cut into five pieces,” with one being the incumbent mayor who has been in his role for 16 years and the other three who are incumbents in their elected offices in the city and state, Ciampi noted.
He shared that he believes people made up their minds as to who they would vote for long before Election Day.
Ciampi said he was also disappointed in the voter turnout. “I thought there would be more people participating,” he added.
Ciampi shared that he congratulated Sarno and Hurst once the results were in, and thanked Lederman and Ramos for participating in the race.
“I’m proud of what I did … I respected everyone,” he said.
Moving forward, Ciampi said he will do what he can to be more involved in government, with a goal of being more responsive.
City Council Ward 6
Two out of three candidates for City Council Ward 6 will be advancing to the general election including incumbent Victor Davila who finished in first place with 1,299 votes, followed by Shanequa Fryar who received 409 votes. Humberto Caro finished in third place with 160 votes.
City Council at-Large
Only 10 out of the 21 City Council at-Large candidates will be seen on the Nov. 7 election ballot including incumbent Kateri Walsh who received the most votes with 5,962. Incumbents Whitfield and Sean Curran received 5,515 and 5,275, respectively. Others advancing include Brian Santaniello with 4,628 votes, Jose Delgado, 3,841 votes; Gerry Martin, 3,483 votes; Nicole Coakley, 3,286 votes; Willie Naylor, 3,036; Juan Caraballo III, 2,969 votes; and Juan Latorre III, 2,620 votes.
Edward Nunez missed the 10th spot by only nine votes, finishing with 2,611.
Nunez had the right to call for a recount but had not done so as of press time.
The other candidates who will not be advancing are Thomas Oakley, 1,703 votes; Norman Roldan, 1,702; Mike Lee, 1,647; Kim Rivera, 1,639; Debra Fletcher, 1,161; Charles Stokes, 1,142; Drew Keaton El, 874; Jonathan Viruet, 818; Lynell Gasque, 724 and Soraya Mcelya, 638.