CHICOPEE – With the introduction of two new City Councilors and four School Committee members, the Nov. 2 Chicopee election brought an infusion of new voices alongside the legislation’s familiar foundation.

Long-time School Committee member Mary-Elizabeth Pniak-Costello and Delmarina Lopez highlight the newcomers to City Council. Pniak-Costello defeated candidate John Pacquette Jr. for the Ward 9 seat by securing 55 percent of the vote, taking over Stanley Walczak’s seat after his three terms as councilor. Walczak did not seek re-election.

In an interview with Reminder Publishing, Pniak-Costello discussed her door-to-door effort to create an open dialogue with constituents during her campaign. She cited traffic, speeding and infrastructure repairs as key concerns within her ward. “I will continue to represent the constituents in Ward 9 and ensure that their concerns are addressed,” said Pniak-Costello.

Lopez ran unopposed for the Ward 3 seat, taking over the position for Lucjan Galecki after he did not seek re-election. Lopez’s victory marks a major milestone in Chicopee’s legislative history, as she becomes the first person of color to assume a City Council position. The attorney and Chicopee Public Schools graduate expressed pride in her achievement during a post-election victory speech.

“This is incredible, and it does not lay lightly on my soul. It is vital to me that in 2021, I am the first ever person of color elected to the Chicopee City Council…This is for everybody,” said Lopez to a cheering crowd at her election day gathering.

City Councilors Frederick Krampits of Ward 5 and Gary Labrie of Ward 8 faced challengers in their re-election bid. Krampits defeated John Kivel with 55 percent of the vote, while Labrie kept his seat after garnering 72 percent of the vote over challenger Lisa Hagar.

For School Committee, Ward 1 candidate Timothy Wagner, Ward 5 candidate Grace Schofield, Ward 6 candidate Samuel Shumsky, Ward 8 candidate Douglas P. Girouard and Ward 9 candidate Ronald J. Benard highlight the newcomers to the committee.

In interviews with Reminder Publishing, Wagner and Shumsky discussed what they hope to achieve with their new positions. As a 2021 Chicopee Comprehensive graduate and former Chicopee Student Advisory Committee President, Wagner shared his hopes to implement a mandatory finance class to help students properly budget and remove the MCAS as a graduation requirement. “We’re one of only 12 states to still require state standardized testing for graduation,” said Wagner.

Shumsky spoke about his excitement as another Generation Z voice in the legislation. “It’s always been my dream to be an elected official and help people. I’m excited to give back and work toward the betterment of schools across the district,” said Shumsky. As a committee member, he expressed his desires to increase STEM Education and expand vocational programs for plumbing and HVAC training.

Each School Committee candidate ran unopposed after James Tanhauser of Ward 1, Deborah Styckiewicz of Ward 5 and David Schryver of Ward 8 did not seek re-election. Former Ward 6 committee member Susan Ann Szetela Lopes has moved to the two-year, At-Large position after defeating Stephen Nembirkow with 66 percent of the vote, while Pniak-Costello’s Ward 9 seat was vacated after deciding to run for City Council.

Incumbents for School Committee include Ward 2 David Barsalou, Ward 4 Sandra Ann Peret and Ward 7 Donald J. Lamothe, with each running unopposed for their positions. Ward 3 Saulo DePaula also kept his seat after assuming the role in September from Marjorie Wojcik after her retirement.

In terms of City Council incumbents, the four At-Large candidates Frank Laflamme, Gerard Roy, James Tillotson and Robert Joseph Zygarowski kept their positions after defeating challengers Shirley Arriaga, Sean Goonan and Matthew Hernke. Ward 1 Joel McAuliffe, Ward 2 Shane Brooks, Ward 4 George Balakier, Ward 6 Derek Dobosz and Ward 7 William Courchesne all ran unopposed in their re-election bids.

The city-wide turnout was 12.39 percent, which is identical to the 12 percent figure City Clerk Keith Rattell predicted to Reminder Publishing before the election. A central cause for the low turnout in Rattell’s estimation was the lack of marquee ballot topics, with Mayor John Vieau comfortably winning in his unopposed run for a second term.

Readers can view the full election results at https://www.chicopeema.gov/850/Election-Results.