2009 Municipal Election Candidates

Tuesday was the last day for Holyoke municipal candidates to file their papers. Not everyone who has taken out papers filed them. Most notably Miguel A Vasquez III who took out papers for mayor.

Since more than two candidates are certified for the Mayoral, and Treasurer's race there will be a preliminary, (not primary - that would be for political parties), a preliminary election on Sept. 22nd. The general election will be held on Nov. 3rd.

This is the full list of certified candidates for municipal election 2009.

Mayor

Daniel C Boyle Mayor
Antonio Colon Jr
Eva M O'Connell
Elaine A Pluta


City Clerk

Susan M Egan
Anthony Soto


City Treasurer

David B Donoghue
Jon C Lumbra
John C Pietrzykowski


City Councilor At Large

William J Bevan
Rory P Casey
Patricia C Devine
Jason P Ferreira
Kevin A Jourdain
Wesley Kulig
James M Leahy
John P Lecca
Rebecca Lisi
Joseph M McGiverin
Brenna E Murphy
Peter R Tallman
Aaron Vega


Councilor Ward 1

Sylvia Robello
Donald R Welch


Councilor Ward 2

Diosdado Lopez


Councilor Ward 3

Anthony M Keane


Councilor Ward 4

Timothy W Purington


Councilor Ward 5

John P Brunelle
Linda L Vacon


Councilor Ward 6

Todd McGee


Councilor Ward 7

John J O'Neill


School Committee At Large

Michael J Moriarty


School Committee Ward 1

Gladys Lebron-Martinez


School Committee Ward 2

Yvonne Garcia


School Committee Ward 3

Dennis W Birks Jr


School Committee Ward 4

Cesar A Lopez


School Committee Ward 5

James A Rossmeisl
Devin M Sheehan


School Committee Ward 6

William R Collamore


School Committee Ward 7

Margaret M Boulais

Just What Are The Issues?

In regards to the Mayor's race, many people have asked me where the candidates stand on the issues, but just what are "the issues"?

A few months back I started a list of questions for the candidates, and I also have the excellent information gathered from the community conversation event to add to those questions, but before I submit anything to the candidates I'd like to hear from you.

If you have some questions, or issues that you would like to be address, just click the comment button below.

Motorcycle Fire

My friend, and I were headed out in the car last Friday when we turned the corner of our street, and saw smoke rising nearby. A quick detour down North Summer Street and we found this. A motorcycle, Just laying there in the road burning up.



It seems the owner of the bike had just parked it when suddenly it bust into flames. The neighborhood kids said it had been leaking gas. It must of took the Fire Department a full two minutes to arrive. By that time the bike was as crisp as a campfire marshmallow.





With a spray of fresh water the fire was instantly reduced to a cloud of steam. For some reason after the fire was out the smell of burning rubber started filling the street. I didn't feel like standing in the hot sun breathing carcinogens all afternoon so we quickly left to finish our trek with a strange satisfaction of having seen a spectacle - at the expense of the poor biker who's ride was reduced to scrap.



No one was hurt. It was a minor incident to be sure. Just one of those weird things in downtown Holyoke.

Holyoke Loves The 4th

With perfect weather on Sunday how could I stay away from HCC, and the Holyoke Fireworks. I had a nice picnic with friends who live close to the campus, and walked in before dark.







The playing field was filled with family friendly fun, and kids were everywhere having a great time. Everyone was in good spirits. I didn't see a single angry face, or hear a nasty word from anyone the whole time.







After wandering around, and running into to random friends I settled in a nice spot to watch some kids play a pick up game while waiting for the theatrics to begin.





Oooooooooooo... Aaaaaaaaaahh...




I'm really happy with my photos. Click on the pictobrowser below.




Grand Finale

July 4th in the Flats

People get a little carried away with displays of aerial patriotism down here on the 4th. After sundown you can stand at almost any intersection and be surrounded by fireworks shooting from blocks around. Here are few photos I took of the displays with Moonlight in the sky. Enjoy..

Round ?

It wasn't much a hearing last night at the Morgan School in South Holyoke. Some regular business like a permit for a Verizon Wireless cell tower, as well as a car lot. Most people were there for the Transfer Station hearing, and after 30 minutes the regular stuff was finished so the Ordinance committee opened the hearing for a presentation by United Waste's chief executive Scott Lemay. But that's as far as it got. Councilor Diosdado Lopez immediately made a motion to continue the hearing until next month over the issue of Spanish translation, and after lengthy inter-committee debate they voted to grant to continuance.



I am much confused by last night's proceedings since, as stated in this Republican story, Councilor Lopez is presently/still in court against the city on this very issue, and according to State ethics laws, that fact should have barred him from sitting on the Ordinance Subcommittee, at least in regards to this matter. I am certain of one thing, they set new record for the shortest transfer station hearing yet. Just over ten minutes.



A total of 35 people were in the room last night at the Morgan School. If you take out all the sitting politicians, and those running for office. As well as others with some special interest connected to the Transfer Station like me reporting it, as well as the HOPE group and Grow Holyoke members, Janitor, and policeman - only 2 people were innocent members of the public. The whole purpose of holding this hearing in Ward 2 was so that people from the neighborhood could participate. I think Holyoke needs to start doing a better job advertising these things, and straighten out how these venues function. If language translation is going to be done for one group I hope it will be done at all public meetings, for everyone who asks for it. My Native American friends have been outraged for years at the lack of translation into the local Nipmuck, and Pocumtuc dialects.