HOLYOKE — Among the City Council incumbents being challenged in this November’s election is Linda Vacon in Ward 5, who faces off against newcomer Jens Michaelsen on Nov. 5.
Ward 5 covers the Whiting Farms neighborhood, much of the Homestead Avenue neighborhood and all but the northernmost section of the Rock Valley neighborhood.
Michaelsen, 34, is an outage coordinator for ISO New England, according to his LinkedIn page, and has been living in the city full time since 2016. Originally from Lansing, Michigan, Michaelsen joined the U.S. Navy out of high school and worked as a supervisor on a nuclear submarine.
Michaelsen said he recently became involved in city politics as he started to voice his opinions at city government meetings in support of the ballot question asking voters whether to help fund the construction of two new middle schools in the city.
Education is one of the most important issues facing the city, he said, noting that more investment in the city’s education system could persuade more families to move to Holyoke, which he said would expand the tax base.
“I think bringing in new facilities opens up the opportunities for partnerships in businesses as well,” Michaelsen said.
The education system’s funding mechanism needs to be fixed, a problem that could be partially solved by creating a nonprofit-like organization that would help lessen the proposed bond’s tax burden on citizens with crowdfunding donations through businesses and individuals, he said.
“It would make it a more community project,” Michaelsen said.
Dilapidated buildings and empty homes due to tax liens are also major problems facing the city, Michaelsen said. Though he recognizes the city has been working to address these issues, Michaelsen said he would push the City Council to do more to foster redevelopment by putting such buildings out to bid in a request for proposal.
Michaelsen said he hopes voters will elect him in November because “I would be someone who looked at all of the options for everyone in the community,” he said. “I would be representing Ward 5, but I want decisions to benefit everyone.”
Vacon, 65, is a nurse who works as the health services director at Day Brook Village Senior Living in Holyoke. Vacon is currently finishing her 10th full year representing Ward 5.
As a ward councilor, Vacon said she focuses more intently on the area she represents, but said that many of the issues in Ward 5 affect the city at large. One of the most pressing issues facing the city, she said, are decrepit buildings that are dangerous and not in use. Vacon called Holyoke “land poor,” suggesting that the city should clear the land on which such buildings sit to entice more development.
“If we can resolve those, it would clear land, help the impression of the city and open up opportunity for development on the lots,” Vacon said.
Vacon is against the Proposition 2½ debt-exclusion override ballot question that asks voters whether to help fund the construction of two new middle schools, citing affordability concerns for borrowers and renters.
She said the city should take more time looking at all alternative options for upgrades to the education system, such as renovating existing schools or finding different ways of using the Holyoke High Dean Campus.
“I think we need to revisit and look at those options again in a more community-based way,” Vacon said.
Vacon believes voters should reelect her because she is committed to looking after the financial interests of city residents.
“I think it’s our role as public servants to be good advocates for the people we represent,” she said.
Michael Connors can be reached at mconnors@gazettenet.com.