Ashe leaves Council for mayor’s office and Whitfield to take his place

Sept. 13, 2018 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

SPRINGFIELD – Like many followers of city politics, Tracye Whitfield said she had been aware of the reports that City Councilor Tom Ashe was going to step down from the council to become Mayor Domenic Sarno’s Chief of Staff.

Over the weekend, on Sept. 8, Sarno made the formal announcement that his long-time Chief of Staff Denise Jordan had been approved by the Commonwealth to be the next executive director of the Springfield Housing Authority and that Ashe will be his next chief of staff.

This means Ashe will be leaving the City Council and that the candidate from the last election who received the next highest number of votes, Whitfield, will become part of the council.

Whitfield told Reminder Publishing that she has not yet been told exactly when she would take the oath of office and assume Ashe’s spot on the Council but she expected to hear later this week.

Whitfield said she has an agenda of issues she would like to pursue, but immediately she wants to start constituents what are their concerns.

“I’m here for the residents, here for the people,” she said.

Whitfield noted that while economic development projects downtown have been good for the city she wants to focus on the empty storefronts and business opportunities in areas such as Indian Orchard, Mason Square and Page Boulevard, for example.

As the co-chair of the C-3 Initiative in Mason Square she is also focused on crime reduction. Although crime in the city has decreased she wants to see more improvement.

Working in the field of workforce development, Whitfield said she would address that issue as well encouraging residents to take advantage of programs at Springfield Technical Community College and Holyoke Community College that would prepare them for local jobs.

Sarno released the following statement: “I’m pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Ashe as my new Chief of Staff. Tom has served with distinction for 10 years on the School Committee and eight years on the City Council giving him an intimate knowledge of city government, which enables him to ‘hit the ground running.’ He has been a great partner as a city councilor with our continued ‘war on crime.’ He is a true neighborhood guy and a real ‘people person,’ who has always been very sensitive to the needs of our neighborhoods. I welcome him and look forward to working with him in his new role.”

Sarno continued, “I’d like to thank Denise for her service to the citizens of Springfield and my administration. Denise has been by my side for the past 10 years through some of the most challenging times in the history of our city. She has been a confidant and a very valuable part of my administration and I will miss her. However, I wish her well in her new role as executive director of the Springfield Housing Authority (SHA) and I look forward to working with her in that capacity. This is bittersweet for me. My loss is the SHA’s gain.”

Ashe made the following statement, “I want to take a minute and let you all know what a genuine privilege it has been to serve you over the last 18 years in office. I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of service and I hope that I have earned the faith and trust that you placed in me.

“I can’t begin to name all that have stood with me and supported me over the years but please know that I will always cherish your friendship and kindness. I want to thank my amazing family for their love and support.

“I have been offered a tremendous opportunity by Mayor Sarno to join his team to help move our great city continually forward. Mayor Sarno’s efforts have been remarkable in turning the city around and into the thriving community we now have. I very much look forward to the work ahead.

“Again, thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”

Whitfield wrote on her Facebook page over the weekend, “God thank you for always blessing me. Please guide my message. I want to say thank you to everyone who’s congratulated me on becoming the next City Councilor! I truly appreciate it! I have not gotten a formal letter or been sworn in as of yet. That is the reason I have not said anything.

“However, if/when it does happen I promise to work hard for all the people in Springfield! It will be my honor to work for this great city and the people that I love! I will not let you down!

“Thank you to my family, all the rock stars on my hardworking and dedicated team, everyone who contributed to the campaign in any way and of course all of you who voted for me!

“My goal is to work in collaboration with the rest of the councilors and the Mayor to benefit the city and get things done! This does not mean we will always agree on everything but we can do our best to act with integrity, dignity and respect to move the city forward.

“You will all be invited to the celebration!

“Again, thank you!”

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