HOLYOKE — Ward 7 City Council candidates Meagan Magrath-Smith and Eileen Brady Leahy are advancing to the Nov. 7 general election, after winning first and second place in a preliminary election that drew low voter turnout Tuesday.
Only 13% of 4,400 eligible voters in Ward 7 participated in the primary, in which Magrath-Smith topped the ticket with 330 votes, representing 58.10% of the vote. Leahy had 222 votes, or 39.08%. Third candidate Steve N. Rosenbush garnered only 16 votes and will not advance onto the general election.
Magrath-Smith said she was “feeling good” about the results and would continue attempting to knock on every Ward 7 resident’s door.
“Since I announced my candidacy in March I’ve been committed to knocking on as many doors as possible,” Magrath-Smith said in a statement. “[Voters] want someone who can listen, and I’m showing I’m listening by knocking on their door.”
Leahy said she was “truly humbled” by voters’ support for her. Moving forward, she said she would focus on boosting voter turnout in the general election by helping people obtain absentee ballots and find a way to get to the polls.
“I’m committed to making Ward 7 even better than it already is,” Leahy said regarding her candidacy.
Magrath-Smith, 38, is a teacher in Springfield with experience chairing the Community Preservation Act Committee and serving on Mayor Joshua A. Garcia’s transition team. Leahy, 54, is a licensed attorney who has served on the conservation committee, as well as boards for the Holyoke Children’s Museum and YWCA. Her husband, James Leahy, served on the City Council for 22 years, between 2000 and 2022.
Ward 7 City Councilor Todd McGee announced he would not run for reelection in March, opening the field for Magrath-Smith, Leahy and Rosenbush.
Rosenbush, who ran a quiet race, said now that he was out of the contest, he would endorse Leahy’s candidacy.
“I think she has some skills which could be useful in the city council, and I don’t see anything Meagan could contribute to the city council,” Rosenbush said.
Holyoke’s general election features multiple contests for the council and school committee.
On the council, the at-large race for six seats includes the following candidates: incumbents Tessa Murphy-Romboletti, Israel Rivera, Kevin A. Jourdain and, Jose Maldonado Velez, along with challengers Howard B. Greaney, Michael J. Sullivan, Axel Fontanez, Patricia C. Devine and Mimi Panitch.
Contests in each ward include:
■ Ward 1: Victor M. Machado De Jesus and incumbent Jenny Rivera.
■Ward 2: Carmen Yolanda Ocasio and Janelle Mojica.
■Ward 3: Anne Thalheimer and incumbent David K. Bartley.
■Ward 4: Ruth I. Garcia and incumbent Kocayne Givner.
■Ward 7: Meagan Magrath-Smith and Eileen Brady Leahy.
On the School Committee, the at-large race includes incumbent Erin Brunelle facing Luissette Arroyo Rosado.
The Ward 4 position is the only contested race, with Gloria A. Caballero Roca against Faizul Johnny Sibdhanny Jr.
Incumbents running unopposed include Ward 2’s Rosalee Tensley Williams, Ward 3’s Yadilette Rivera Colon; Ward 5’s John Whelihan; Ward 6’s William R. Collamore and Ward 7’s Eleanor M. Wilson.