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Date: 10/30/2023
SPRINGFIELD — With less than a week until the municipal election, Springfield mayoral candidates are reflecting on their campaigns and sharing a final message with voters before they take to the polls on Nov. 7.
Mayor Domenic Sarno shared that he feels “very good” about his campaign.
“We have a proven track record. We’ve been battle tested,” he said.
Sarno and his campaign volunteers have been conducting two standouts a week — on Wednesdays and Saturdays — throughout the city.
He extended gratitude to the hundreds of volunteers that have gone out there in support of his candidacy.
Heading into the election, Sarno said he feels as though he has gotten his message out to the public.
If reelected, Sarno plans to continue to make public safety his No. 1 priority. Some additional areas of importance include housing and job creation, school rehabilitation and construction, and building on economic development, he said.
“I’m going to continue to lobby hard for [the] courthouse to be built here in Springfield,” Sarno shared.
Reflecting on the past 16 years in office, Sarno said his administration has been through several unforeseen natural and man-made disasters. In 2011, the city experienced the impacts of an EF-3 tornado followed by an October snowstorm. In 2012, a gas explosion rocked the Worthington Street area. More recently, the administration was faced with management of the coronavirus pandemic and its ongoing impacts. During this year’s preliminary election, a major water main break disrupted service to a significant portion of the city.
He also referenced what he called financial success, which he said he is proud of.
Sarno added that the city has made “major headway” on education and public safety such as the implementation of body-worn cameras and taking illegal guns off the streets.
Nonetheless, he said there is more work to get done.
Sarno noted that he plans to continue with “compassionate” leadership and deeply cares for the people of Springfield. While some might not always agree with him, Sarno said that he bases his decisions with the best interest of the people in mind.
“I’m ready to go if people will have me. I’m ready for another four years [to] continue moving Springfield forward,” he said.
“I love this job … I live it 24/7 [and I’m] ready to move forward for another four years,” he added. “I am honored and privileged to be the mayor of Springfield.”
While he has received endorsements from the Pioneer Valley Building Trade Council, the Springfield Police Department and the Realtors Association, Sarno said the most important endorsement is the voter confidence from Springfield residents.
He thanked his family — his wife, Carla, and two daughters, Cassandra and Chiara, for their continued support.
He also thanked his parents for instilling hard work ethic and respect into him.
Sarno’s challenger, City Councilor at-Large Justin Hurst, said, “I feel great,” when reflecting on his campaign.
He noted the positive energy and enthusiasm he has seen from the residents he speaks with every day, along with the individuals who have never voted before. Hurst said they are excited to get out there and make their voices heard.
He went on to say that he is excited to have support from state Sen. Adam Gomez (D-Springfield), former mayoral candidate and state Rep. Orlando Ramos (D-Springfield), City Councilor at-Large Tracye Whitfield, Ward 8 City Councilor Zaida Govan and School Committee Vice Chair LaTonia Naylor, to name a few. Hurst has also received endorsements from the 1199SEIU Massachusetts healthcare workers union and the Western Massachusetts Labor Federation.
He shared that there are “a good number of elected officials that believe the time is now … It’s time for new leadership in the city of Springfield,” noting that 16 years in office “causes your circle to shrink.”
Ahead of Election Day, Hurst said he would like voters to know that he is running because he wants to make sure everyone is included in their city government.
“I want to ensure all young people receive a first-class education,” he shared.
Other reasons why Hurst is running for mayor is to create a comprehensive plan to address gun violence and work to reduce taxes — especially for seniors.
“I’m going to follow through on broken promises by previous [administrations],” such as the eliminating the trash fee, along with providing transparency and being straightforward, he added.
Hurst encourages everyone to get out and vote on Nov. 7.
“The residents in Springfield will make a difference,” he shared.
At press time, City Clerk Gladys Oyola-Lopez said it was too soon to guess what the voter turnout might be but expects it to be more than what a local election typically is, based on the “highly contested” mayoral race.
In November 2015, voter turnout was around 16%, November 2011 was a little more than 22% and in November 2009, voter turnout was about 25%.
Although this years preliminary election voter turnout was low — a little less than 14% — Oyola-Lopez noted that it was higher than the usual turnout of about 10% or so.
Oyola-Lopez shared that she thinks the “small bump” in the turnout will hold true in the November election.
Additionally, City Council Ward 6 incumbent Victor Davila is being challenged by Shanequa Fryar and incumbent Ward 4 City Councilor Malo Brown is being challenged by Abdul-Kareem Kibodya.
City Council incumbents Maria Perez, Michael Fenton, Melvin Edwards, Lavar Click-Bruce, Timothy Allen and Zaida Govan are all running unopposed to their seats in Wards 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8, respectively.
Ten City Council at-Large candidates are vying for five seats, including incumbents Sean Curran, Kateri Walsh and Tracye Whitfield, along with Brian Santaniello, Jose Delgado, Gerry Martin, Nicole Coakley, Willie Naylor, Juan Caraballo III and Juan Latorre III.
There will not be any ballot questions.
The city election will take place on Nov. 7, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Springfield is broken down into eight wards with each ward containing a number of precincts. A ward/precinct map is available at springfield-ma.gov/elections/ward-representation and a list of polling locations can be found at springfield-ma.gov/elections/polling-locations. You can also confirm your polling location by calling the Elections Office at 413-787-6190.
Early voting began on Oct. 25 and lasts through Nov. 3.
Early voting will take place at Springfield City Hall, 36 Court St., on Nov. 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Nov. 3, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.