EASTHAMPTON — Longtime city councilor Joy E. Winnie is eyeing a run for mayor, a move that would set up a contested race for the city’s top job this November.
Winnie, who has represented Precinct 3 on the City Council since Easthampton adopted a city form of government more than two decades ago, took out nomination papers for mayor on Monday. She has until Sept. 19 to turn the papers in to the city clerk’s office for certification.
If that happens, Winnie would join Nicole LaChapelle as a candidate for mayor.
LaChapelle formally announced her campaign last month and turned in her nomination papers on July 3.
Current Mayor Karen Cadieux, who ran unopposed two years ago, is not seeking re-election and will retire at the end of her second term this year.
Winnie, 57, graduated from Easthampton High School in 1978. She earned an associate degree in business administration from Holyoke Community College in 1995, and is currently a transportation supervisor for Northampton public schools.
Repeated attempts to speak with Winnie were unsuccessful throughout the day and evening Tuesday.
City Councilor Dan Rist, who has served alongside Winnie for years, said he is a strong supporter of her candidacy.
“She knows the city well, she knows the finances well,” he said.
Another councilor, Peg Conniff, said she is pleased there will likely be a contested race for mayor.
“I think the city of Easthampton and its residents deserve candidates who will discuss the issues and present their visions for the future of our city,” the at-large councilor said in an email.
Conniff said she has a “tremendous amount of respect” for Winnie and her years of service to the city, and she looks forward to what both candidates have to say about their plans to move Easthampton forward — from educational excellence to economic sustainability and cultural diversity.
“Should be a great race,” Conniff said.
Patrick Brough, a 20-year Easthampton resident, said he’s curious to see how the race plays out. For Brough, it’s important to have an open-minded leader.
“As a mayor, you have to be willing to listen to all sides objectively before you make a decision,” he said.
Jackie Brousseau-Pereira, a 15-year Easthampton resident, is a supporter of LaChapelle, but said she has a lot of respect for Winnie.
“I think it’s great that there is a race,” Brousseau-Pereira said in an email. “I’m looking forward to hearing the ways that they both engage voters in the days ahead.”
Meanwhile, LaChapelle announced this week that she has received campaign contributions totaling $17,080 from 230 donors in May and June.
LaChapelle said she plans to publicly release her campaign finance reports every month throughout the campaign.
The reports for May, when she raised $3,425, and June, during which she raised $13,655, can be viewed on her campaign website and include all receipts, expenditures and liabilities incurred in those two months.
Cadieux welcomes a competitive race to replace her as mayor, though she will not change her mind about retirement.
“After I announced my intention to retire, I was extremely humbled to receive the overwhelming requests from the public for me to reconsider my decision and I did not expect their expressions of sadness,” Cadieux said in an email. “So I am pleased that our residents will have a choice to make at the November election.”
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.