On Nov. 4, Easthampton voters have a good predicament – deciding how to rank three serious and thoughtful mayoral candidates. All three would most likely do a good job if elected and we should be grateful for the difficult decision.
Saying that, I am the only person in Easthampton who has worked with all three candidates for the entirety of their municipal careers, with the exception of the last six months since my retirement. I served Easthampton for 42 years, the last 31 as city clerk.
But because I know all three personally, my choice to support Salem Derby as the next mayor was an easy one. I worked with Salem since he was first elected as a city councilor and have come to know him as a genuine, honest, intelligent and hard-working individual. His 22 years on the City Council uniquely position him to move into the mayor’s office without a big learning curve. This has already been evident during the time he has served as interim mayor. No drama, no pretending to be someone he’s not — what you see is what you get!
While it may not rank highly to everyone in terms of importance, I believe it is critical that the mayor’s office be staffed— in person — during regular work hours at the municipal building. Residents and city staff should no longer be faced with a locked door at the mayor’s office for much of the work week. Salem has assured me the mayor’s office will have in-person staffing during work hours at 50 Payson Avenue. I know he will honor this promise because he sees accessibility to the mayor, or the mayor’s staff, as something that voters should expect from their chief elected official.
During my career, I worked with many Easthampton selectmen, town administrators, mayors and councils, and seeing what worked — and what could have been done better — I strongly believe that Salem Derby has the experience, demeanor, creativity and dedication to serve the city well for the next four years.
Barbara LaBombard, former city clerk
Easthampton