AGAWAM – For the first time in the history of the organization, an Agawam politician has been named as the president of the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA).

Vice President of the Agawam City Council, Cecilia Calabrese, who has just begun her eighth year on the council, was voted in and inducted during the organization’s first meeting of the year on Jan. 25. Calabrese said she’d joined the board of directors in 2017 at the suggestion of those who were on the board at the time.

“About five years ago, I was able to attend [an MMA meeting], and in the following year there was an opening for the district one board of directors position,” Calabrese explained. “At that point in time they didn’t have a candidate for that position. Speaking with the board of directors they encouraged me to run, and I won.”

After being elected to the board of directors, Calabrese said she was named as the vice president of the MMA. “Having served on the board of directors, the nomination for vice president came up and I was elected,” she explained.

Calabrese said the Town of Agawam and MMA’s relationship goes back quite a few years. “Agawam has been an MMA community member since before I was on the council,” she said.

The organization, according to their website, “has been bringing municipal officials together to articulate a clear and united municipal message, to develop and advocate for unified policies, and to share information and work together to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of municipal service delivery” for 40 years.

Calabrese said one thing she appreciates about the organization is “that first and foremost is that it’s nonpartisan.” She elaborated, and said, “What that does is allow us to put party politics aside. It transcends party politics.”

She went on to explain, “the main emphasis is increasing funds to local cities and towns.” This, she said, helps to ensure local entities maintain “control over things like housing, better funding for education and infrastructure.”

“Just about everything that affects the quality of life in Mass. as a whole is what MMA advocates for,” she explained. The MMA often testifies on matters on Beacon Hill as well, and have, in certain past instances, gone to Congress to testify as well, Calabrese said.

The organization meets about once a month with local advocacy committees and meets once a month with Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.

Calabrese said being president of the MMA is good for local residents as well as they now have another local elected official advocating for them in Boston.

As for issues she’d like to work on during her tenure as president, Calabrese said there are quite a few.

“I am always looking to increase Chapter 90 funding, I know that Senator Lesser has been working on east–west rail, I’m always spouting off about that,” she said with a laugh. “Another thing that is a big focus for me is charter school reimbursement funding.”

More information about the MMA and what they do can be found at www.mma.org/about-mma/staff/.