EASTHAMPTON — With Joy Winnie running for mayor, leaving her Precinct 3 City Council seat after 21 years, newcomers are eyeing the position.
Donald C. Emerson, a retired captain of the Easthampton Police Department, has pulled papers for the seat.
Emerson retired in 2010 after 41 years in the department. In 2011, he lost a bid for mayor. In 2013, he ran unsuccessfully for an at-large seat on the City Council.
Efforts to contact Emerson for comment were unsuccessful.
If Emerson turns in nomination papers for certification, he will have competition from Thomas Peake, 28, a research analyst for the UMass system. Peake turned in papers for the Precinct 3 seat last month. Peake said he is looking forward to the race.
“Easthampton City Council races haven’t always been terribly competitive, and I’m glad that this year seems to be different in that respect,” Peake said in a message.
Meanwhile nine people have pulled papers for city councilor at-large. With four seats available, it could turn out to be a competitive election.
“This is the biggest number of people that have taken out papers that I can remember,” City Clerk Barbara LaBombard said.
Incumbent Joseph McCoy has returned papers as well as newcomers Jared Hinkle, Owen Zaret and William E. Lynch IV. Incumbents Daniel Carey and Margaret “Peg” Conniff pulled papers, but have not turned in signatures for certification.
Lynch, 35, a store manager at Stop & Shop, has lived in Easthampton his whole life. He has a 3-year-old child and wants to make the city the best possible place to grow up in.
“I love the direction it’s going in,” he said about Easthampton, adding that there are positive community events for kids such as Big Rig Day and Winter Fest.
Zaret, 43, a physician assistant at Holyoke Medical Center, said in a previous interview that he would like to look into ways to bring accessible, community-based health care — including urgent care — to the city.
Hinkle, 38, a shift maintenance supervisor at a trucking company who served in the military and was awarded the Purple Heart, supports promoting local business and supports the school consolidation project.
“I chose Easthampton because of the small-town feeling,” Hinkle said in a previous interview about moving to the area. “I want to make sure those values are being kept in Easthampton.”
At-large incumbents said they welcome the competition.
McCoy, a veterinarian, has served on the City Council since 2005. He said new councilors can bring fresh ideas.
In the five terms he’s served, McCoy said this year has generated the most interest he’s seen. In 2015, five people contested four at-large seats.
Conniff wrote a letter to the editor on July 31 urging Easthampton women to consider running for the City Council.
“If women are truly going to make a change at the highest level, we need to start locally,” Conniff wrote.
Carey, 32, director of drug diversion and treatment program for the Northwestern district attorney’s office, plans on running for his second term. He has perviously served on the School Committee, which he said helped him understand city finance.
“It’s great to have so many contested races,” Carey said.
Newcomers who have pulled papers for the at-large seats are Patrick Goodreau, James W. Mathews and Cinzia Pica-Smith.
Mathews, 32, who has lived in Easthampton for two years, said he is serious about running and has started collecting signatures.
“The neighborhood was there for me when I needed it most and I’d like to return the favor,” Mathews said.
Goodreau, an attorney and five-year Easthampton resident, said he has decided he will not be running. Goodreau said he would like to become more involved with the city, possibly by serving on a board, before running for a council seat.
Pica-Smith could not be reached for comment.
“It’s very exciting when people want to get involved and have a voice in the community,” Mayor Karen Cadieux said.
Homar Gomez, Easthampton softball coach, has returned papers for Precinct 2. The seat has been held by Jennifer Hayes since 2013 and she will not be running for re-election.
Nomination papers must be returned to the city clerk’s office by Sept. 19 for certification. The 2017 election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 7.
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.