Springfield voters will choose from a large field of candidates

Sept. 7, 2017 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com



SPRINGFIELD – Voters in the City of Homes will have the opportunity of choosing from a wide field of candidates in the upcoming preliminary election on Sept. 19.

It is the goal of Reminder Publications to run profiles of as many of the candidates as possible prior to that date. This is the first of several articles dedicated to the candidates.

This election cycle is marked by a high number of first time candidates who have been motivated to run for office by issues they have seen first hand.

School Committee
• James Ferrera

The former long-time city councilor, who also served as president of that body, is running for an at-large seat on the School Committee. He said, “I know first hand about the great teachers in Springfield as I suffer from dyslexia. If I didn’t have the support from the public schools I couldn’t have graduated from high school and college. I want to make sure all students have that.”

He said that if elected he would undertake an initiative to “tour two schools a week to listen to teachers, paraprofessionals, and guidance counselors.”

Ferrera would also like to improve communications between the School Department and the city’s neighborhoods and introduce reforms designed to improve student achievement.

• Mike Kocsmiersky

A first-time candidate with four daughters in the public schools, Kocsmiersky is a small businessman and energy engineer as well as being a member of the city’s Green Committee and a school volunteer. He said that he has seen conditions as a parent he would like to address on the School Committee.

Calling the district “the largest economic driver for the city,” he said “We all want to create the best opportunities for our children.”

He believes there is too much emphasis on standardized testing and teaching to the test and the district should offer more enrichment opportunities, such as art, music and vocational education. He would advocate for more recess time for exercise and healthier lunches.

For more information, go to https://www.mikekforsps.org.

• Lamar Cook

Cook ran for City Council during the last election and said if elected he would work to establish consistency among the city’s schools on the uniform policy and address the achievement gap between them.

Cook would also advocate a greater emphasis on “life skills” such as financial literacy. He is also concerned about increasing the academic requirements for high school athletes to ensure they have the level of education to go on to college.

He is currently serving on the city’s Community Preservation Commission, the co-founder of the Back to School Brighter Initiative and is a board member of the Old Hill Neighborhood Council.

For more information, go to www.lamarcook.com.

• Giselle Vizcarrondo
Vizcarrondo is running for the District 2 School Committee seat representing Wards 4 and 5, currently held by Barbara Gresham. This is her first run for office.

The mother of six children, all in the school district, she said, “We need change. We need new blood. We need policies that work and get implemented.”

She has been an education advocate for children in foster care and said those children can “get lost in the cracks.” She also believes there should be a better way for parents to choose a high school for their students other than the current lottery and believe in starting an applications process instead.

For more information go, to https://www.facebook.com/CommitteetoelectGiselleVizcarrondo/?hc_ref=ARQOXjoLdzJAf3ja7p102q5KfZpJRetBr5ilUR42MTVAOpBB03UPHOeHdtCz8ggbRec&pnref=story.

• Joesiah Gonzalez

The 2015 graduate of Springfield schools, he is in his third year at Western New England University with his eye on a career as an attorney. He has worked for the city’s Department of Planning ands Economic development and is currently working for Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Running for an at-large seat on the School Committee, Gonzalez noted there has been almost annual turnover of principals at the High School of Science and Technology, which he sees as an indication of the problems the district is facing. He is also concerned about how federal cuts in educational funding are affecting local school districts.

He believes he has an edge the other members of the committee don’t have, as he is a recent student in the district.

For more information go to, https://www.facebook.com/Joesiah-Gonzalez-for-School-Committee-1925668977689954.

• James Anziano

A former teacher at the High School of Science and Technology, Anziano is called the “trade school candidate” and is seeking an at-large seat.  He wants students to be ready for their adult years.

Because of being a teacher, he said he knows first hand “some of the ins and outs” but what truly qualifies him for the position is “my heart – I truly love Springfield.” He is calling for a “more stable and consistent atmosphere” in the city’s school that would benefit both teachers and students.

He said, “We need to weave together the fabric of student and educator and family.” Students are clamoring for another option than college, Anziano said and his answer would be more vocational education opportunities. He also believes standardized tests and attention to too many data point prevents teachers from “lesson building and life building.”

He added, “I will cut any red tape that gets in the way of innovative, commonsense ideas.”

For more information go to www.electanziano.com.

• LaTonia Monroe Naylor

A mother of four, the first-time candidate said her children in the city’s schools are her motivation to run.  Her three platform items include bring “fun and enthusiasm back to the schools,” increase community partnerships and support and to strengthen a safe learning and teaching environment in the city’s schools.

She believes that some schools have more autonomy to make decisions and more resources than others.

“I also think that leadership is everything. So making sure we have leadership that respects and values the teachers who are there and encourages them to create an atmosphere where parents and families feel they are welcome to come in and engage and be a support network for their children,” Naylor said.

Her interest in strengthening community partnerships is a way to leverage existing resources without having to increase funding, she explained. Making sure all schools have libraries and art programs, among other enrichment programs is a priority with her.

City Council
• Marilyn Felix

Felix is running for an at-large seat on the council and this is her first attempt at public office. She said that she would bring to the council her experience in fiscal management. Felix has more than 25 years experience in public and private housing and works in West Springfield managing a housing program with a budget of $1.5 million.

She is very interesting in advancing the economic growth and development of the city. If elected she would advocate to create a housing task force to seek to improve the city’s housing stock and would seek to prioritize the city budget to make the best use of available funds.

For more information, go to https://www.felixforspringfield.com.

• Willie Thomas

Thomas is also running for office for the first time and is the chair of the Springfield Housing Authority. He decided to run at the urging of family and friends.

He has spent most of his adult life working for housing programs as well as volunteering in various capacities.  

“I always believed in civic responsibilities,” he said.

He is concerned about the implementation in the city on the laws legalizing marijuana and making sure the voices of the residents are heard. Thomas is also prioritizing the issue of gas leaks in the city and wants to work with the Department of Public Works and public utilities to address them. Providing oversight of MGM Springfield is another of his goals if elected.

• Ernesto Cruz

The former aide to State Rep. Jose Tosado is making his second attempt to win a City Council at large seat. Cruz last ran in 2013. Attending a candidates’ night sponsored by the City Library, he seemed undeterred by assault charges he is currently facing.

He said he believes his experiences working in the State House prepares him for the City Council and said that if elected he would work on an ordinance that would create a fund of city funds set aside from the administrative budget that could be used to fulfill initiatives developed by neighborhood councils around the city.

For more information, go to www.facebook.com/springfieldforcruz.

• Kevin Dumpson

The executive director of Suit Up Springfield is one of several candidates facing incumbent City Councilor Melvin Edwards in Ward Three. A life-long resident of the ward, Dumpson is a former Springfield firefighter and zoning commissioner.

He is running to be a “stronger voice” for the ward and said, “I don’t believe there has been enough change in the ward over the years.”

Dumpson said he would focus on quality of life issues to improve the ward.

“I’m not a politician. I’m a community activist,” he said.

• Lorenzo Gaines  

Gaines is running for the Ward 4 council seat currently held by E. Henry Twiggs. He is promising “new energy, new vision” at a time he described as an “an important time, a crucial watershed in economic development” for the city.

Gaines was named as a 2010 “Forty Under Forty,” is a small business owner and is a member of the city’s Green Community.

He is concerned about after school programs, snow removal in Ward 4 and expanding community policing efforts.

For more information, https://www.facebook.com/Elect-Lorenzo-Gaines-City-Council-Ward-4-143434796189117/?pnref=story.

• Jynai McDonald

After participating in supporting several city political campaigns, MacDonald realized there was a void of women leaders and decided to run for the City Council seeking an at-large seat.

“The real way to make change is through policy and legislation and I wanted to be part of that,” she said.

A resident of the South End, McDonald wants to make sure MGM Springfield lives up to its commitment to hire Springfield residents. She has been working with MGM to help them meet the hiring goals for the construction of the casino.

Members of the public have been telling her one major concern is the further reduction of the city’s crime rate.

For more information go to www.facebook.com/mcdonaldforspringfield.

• Ken Gilet

Gilet is running for the City Council seat in Ward 2 against incumbent Michael Fenton and said the response to his candidacy has been positive from voters who appreciate a choice.

Gilet, a psychotherapist, said voters have told him they are concerned about additional afterschool programs and a return to community policing to improve public safety.

If elected Gilet would work on legislation that would assist city residents to build homes and start small businesses.

For more information, go to www.electgilet.com.

• Kelli Moriarty-Finn

Moriarty-Finn is also a first time candidate seeking an at-large seat on the city council.

A native of Holyoke, she moved to Springfield in 2002. “Springfield is my home by choice. I believe in Springfield,” she said.

She said that public safety is the top issue voters have shared with her. She currently serves on the City Council committee that address relations between the public and the police, and said if elected, she would advocate the inclusion of C-3 training in the police academy for all new recruits. Although she understands there are prohibitive costs, she would like to see a return to citywide community policing.

She would like to see the city have more “shovel ready” sites for continued economic development.

For more information, go to www.kelli4springfield.com.

• Victor Davila

Interested in local politics for many years, Davila is running for an at-large seat on the City Council, said he running “because I love this city.”

Noting that when he came to Springfield he was homeless and spoke no English, Davila noted he is now a college graduate and a business owner, “We have a lot of challenges in the city, it’s going through a process, this is city is going through a change and I want to be part of that change,” he said.

When asked what should be the phase of the city’s economic development efforts, Davila said the city must be better in coming to terms with unions and approving contracts. He also said the city must invest heavily in public safety and career opportunities for the youth.

For more information, so to www.victorforspringfield.com.   

• Jesse Lederman

Lederman is making a second effort to secure an at-large seat on the City Council. He said he made the decision to run based on the encouragement of people in the city in action to his 2015 campaign.

Having knocked on almost 3,000 doors, Lederman said residents have expressed to him “hope for the future.” People have also said they want to see greater emphasis on neighborhood development and quality of life issues.

Lederman said if elected he would hold MGM Springfield to its promises to the community and would work to strengthen local businesses in the city.

For more information, go to www.jesseforspringfield.com.

• Tim Ryan

The one-time city councilor is running for an at-large seat on the council and said he wants to be part of the solution to the challenges the city his facing.

Even though he has been off of the council for a number of years, Ryan said the problems the city is confronting are the same: crime, levels of poverty and the lack of education some residents face.

In terms of future economic development Ryan said, “We have to work with our strengths.” Those strengths include MassMutual and city’s hospitals. Ryan believes the city should advance its life sciences sector. He noted that life sciences have moved Boston forward and companies should be made aware they could operate in Springfield at a fraction of the cost of doing business in Boston.

Ryan is a proponent of a police commission. “You need some form of the police commission where they is an outside body who reviews the issues of police misconduct,” he said.

The solvency of the city also remains an issue, he said.

For more information, www.facebook.com/timryanforspringfield.

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