As a retired city councilor having served 27 years on the Easthampton City Council, much of that time as chair of its Finance Committee, I feel I have the credibility to judge qualifications for a mayoral candidate. The city charter gives the mayor and the executive office the primary managerial position for the city. The mayor is a full-time employee and basically the CEO of our city. The City Council has limited approval authority, but the mayor is the primary manager and full appropriation authority lies with the mayor. Thus, the mayor had better have “institutional knowledge” of municipal government and finance to run our city. Otherwise, the learning curve is quite daunting given the complication of city government.
In my opinion the upcoming election provides the voters with two “qualified” candidates that can exhibit that institutional knowledge. Interim mayor Salem Derby has 22 years on the City Council and the bully pulpit of the mayor’s office to display his experience and qualifications. However, I feel strongly that I should shine a light on Lindsi Sekula’s seven years of experience in city hall. And, I’m sick of people putting down women who aspire to high political office as not being qualified or “only a secretary.”
Lindsi’s experience involves getting to know all the players in city hall, their needs and functions. As executive assistant to the mayor, she was the primary liaison between department heads and the mayor, providing for smooth communication. Lindsi has “navigated the budget process from end to end” and I want to emphasize how important this is because how government spends your tax dollars is the most important aspect of municipal government. One of the chief duties of the mayor and their assistants is the appropriation and budget process. Lindsi was instrumental in developing seven years of budgets. She initiated internal financial team meetings to streamline the process. She sat with department heads to review and shape budget requests and coordinated the budget process. She updated the budget book to improve transparency and simplicity. Lindsi manages appropriations from request through legal and auditing to the City Council. She knows everyone at the DLS (State Department of local Services) which helps with DLS review of financial processes. She didn’t just draft the budget but wrote it before the mayor’s final approval and knows full well why departments need dollars in every area. Recently she was assigned by the mayor to hire the new treasurer.
Budget and appropriation navigation also means being very familiar with the council and School Committee and their processes. Besides her familiarity with the state officials at the DLS, she is quite familiar with the governor and many state officials. Lindsi Sekula will NOT need a learning period and will jump right in the day after the election. She is personable and approachable.
To be clear, I endorsed Lindsi before Salem Derby entered the race because at the time she was the only candidate with the institutional knowledge to keep our government flowing smoothly. Lindsi Sekula has the experience to earn your vote. She graduated from an intensive government leadership program at Suffolk University along with a pioneer valley leadership program. Leadership requires knowledge and experience. Without it a mayor will need a lot of hand holding while learning the ropes. With Lindsi you won’t need to worry about her capability.
And for historical record, former mayor Karen Cadieux was mayor Michael Tautznik’s assistant before earning her own position. In my opinion a very successful mayor. Lindsi Sekula will be just as successful.
Dan Rist is a retired Easthampton city councilor.