AMHERST — Amherst’s two political action committees, Amherst Forward and the Progressive Coalition of Amherst, are endorsing several of the 25 candidates running for Town Council and School Committee at the Nov. 4 town election.
Voters will elect three at-large councilors and five School Committee members, with the 10 additional Town Council members to be elected across five districts.
Four residents are running for the three at-large seats, six residents are competing for the five School Committee seats and 13 candidates are competing across Districts 1-4, but there is no contest for the two seats in District 5.
For the Progressive Coalition of Amherst, 10 “visionary bold” candidates who represent progress and change are receiving endorsements.
For Town Council, candidates include Charlotte Allegra Rice Clark and incumbent Ellisha May Walker, who are both running for at-large seats; Jillian Brevik and Vince O’Connor for District 1; Amber Lee Cano-Martin for District 2; and incumbent Heather Hala Lord for District 3.
Candidates for the School Committee are Esther Azar, incumbent Bridget Hynes, Laura Jane Hunter and Andrew Hart.
Pat Ononibaku, who chairs the Progressive Coalition, said in a statement that Amherst, as a community, must strive for continual improvement and inclusivity, and the candidates being endorsed represent diverse lived experiences and professional backgrounds.
“These candidates will champion transformative policies and systemic reforms rooted in a commitment to accountability, public participation and transparency,” Ononibaku said.
A dozen candidates were invited, via email, to seek an endorsement. Other candidates which the coalition says has values that don’t align with theirs or running unopposed were not included. District 4 incumbents Jennifer Taub and Pam Rooney opted against seeking endorsements to instead run their campaigns independently.
The Progressive Coalition also stated that it endorsed candidates’ platforms that are grounded in priorities, such as responsible fiscal management, supporting public schools, advancing equitable housing development, promoting climate resilience, championing social justice and improving infrastructure such as roads, as well as implementing reparations, and fully funding and supporting Community Safety Working Group CSWG recommendations, including Community Responders for Equity, Safety and Service, or CRESS; a youth empowerment center; and a Resident Oversight Board for police.
For Amherst Forward, the endorsed candidates are those who aim to have smart stewardship for a stronger Amherst, or “open-minded candidates seeking innovative, practical solutions to public challenges in Amherst.” The group notes that it seeks support for interwoven needs, like expanded housing, school excellence, improved roads and infrastructure and a broadened tax base.
Those endorsed for Town Council are Andy Churchill and incumbent Mandi Jo Hanneke for at large; incumbent Freke Ette for District 1; incumbent Lynn Griesemer for District 2; and incumbents George Ryan and Lord for District 3.
Only incumbent Sarah Marshall was endorsed for School Committee.
“In short, we stand for strengthening our community through wise stewardship of resources and expanding opportunities for current and future residents,” the group said in a statement.
Elaborating, the group is seeking a thriving, innovative and diverse K-12 schools by having candidates who will encourage school leadership and the town to consider a wide range of options to address changing demographics; dealing with the funding pressures for fixing crumbling roads and sidewalks; and expanding both housing and opportunities for economic activity to deliver the revenues that will allow for the public resources Amherst residents seek.
The endorsements were made from a mix of candidates’ written responses to questions posed by Amherst Forward, their public statements and actions, and personal interviews. All 25 candidates for Town Council and School Committee were invited to complete a survey, with anyone who didn’t fill this out not getting an endorsement, and none made in uncontested races, such as District 5.
Candidate information
Most of the candidates for town elective office have submitted written statements posted on the town website at https://amherstma.gov/3747/Candidate-Statements
In addition to those running for Town Council and School Committee, those competing for Jones Library trustees, Housing Authority and elector under the Oliver Smith Will seats were invited to submit statements, with a limit of 900 characters and a URL for a campaign website.
The statements are posted online in the same order the names will appear on the election ballot. A random drawing was conducted, in public, by the town clerk on Oct. 3.
Amherst Media has also posted on its YouTube channel candidate statements, with each running 3 to 5 minutes, and will be rebroadcasting League of Women Voters candidates forums until election day.
Debates
Amherst Current, a website offering news and perspectives on town affairs is holding two candidate debates, moderated by former Massachusetts Senate President Stan Rosenberg, at the Bangs Community Center.
The first will be held Oct. 24 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and the second will be held Oct. 27 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. These debates will also be livestreamed.
The first debate will feature at-large and District 1 candidates. All four at-large candidates, Churchill, Clark, Hanneke and Walker, and District 1 candidates Ette and O’Connor have agreed to participate.
The second debate will feature candidates from Districts 2, 3, 4, and 5. District 2 candidates Jason Dorney and Griesemer, District 3 candidates Patrick Drumm and Ryan, District 4 candidates Dillon Maxfield and Taub, and District 5 incumbent Ana Devlin Gauthier have agreed to participate.