I write as an enthusiastic supporter of Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, whom I had the privilege of serving with for four years on the Northampton City Council. Then and now I know her to be a person of high integrity, honesty, empathy, and someone who doesn’t run from the tough decisions that go with the job. I’m also supporting the reelection of At-Large City Councilor Garrick Perry, and the election of Benjamin Spencer to the second at-large city councilor position. And I believe that Robbie Sullivan would make an outstanding addition to the School Committee as an at-large member. Here in Ward 2, I am working to reelect Debby Pastrich-Klemer to the City Council, and to elect Angela Wack to the School Committee.
Though these candidates are not running as a formal slate, they have much in common: strong support for our public schools (none more so than Mayor Sciarra, who has presided over annual school budget increases of 5.1%, 7.4%, almost 10%, and 6.5% the last four years); an understanding that the hard realities of balancing a city budget require honest math and tough choices, not magical thinking; a recognition that the health and welfare of all of Northampton’s residents depends on maintaining our roads and operating our utilities, offering great services from our police and fire departments, libraries, senior center, and recreation department; in addition to continuing to address real issues in our public schools. They also share a belief that willful spreading of misinformation is as damaging, and inexcusable, at the local level as it is at the national level.
If I were to band these candidates together under one slogan, it would be “Support Our City.” (My phrase, not theirs.)
I am also impressed by other candidates around the city, among them: Gwen Nabad running for City Council in Ward 1, Laurie Loisel for Ward 3 City Council, Aline Davis for Ward 5 City Council, and write-In candidate Megan Wolf for Ward 4 School Committee.
I hope on Nov. 4 we elect candidates who support our city, our whole city.
Dennis Bidwell
Northampton