Editor’s note: This is the first article of a three part series chronicling a total of 32 candidates running for Town Council. Candidates will be profiled in alphabetical order by last name. Ten candidates whose last names start with A through F are featured in this story.

EAST LONGMEADOW – There is a great deal of diversity among Town Council candidates. Some are newcomers to East Longmeadow politics, while others are seasoned in the ways of town government.

Many candidates have different backgrounds as well, such as in education, law, business, finance, and military service.

Donald Anderson said he believes he’s qualified to serve on the council due to his prior town government experience. He served on the Planning Board from 1988 to 2011.

“My 23-year history of service and voting is an open book and those votes were always in what I believed were in the best interest of the town as a whole,” he added. “I am an attorney with over 30 years in practice … I feel that my governmental, legal, and business background will be strong assets for this first-ever Town Council and in hiring a town manager.”

He said he was a strong supporter of the charter and believes the Charter Commission’s work should be commended.

“No one will say the Charter is perfect and as time passes we will find areas to tweak and improve upon, which I feel is one of the many built-in benefits of the charter,” he noted.

Anderson said he believes any additional changes to town government should be made with careful review.

“At this time, we do not need additional change just for the sake of change,” he added. “What we do need is a change in how town hall is viewed.”

William Arment said he believes he’s qualified because of his business background – he’s been an integral part of his family business Charlie Arment Trucking in Springfield for several years.

“I manage employees and sub-contractors; I participate in bid walk-throughs, negotiate and execute contracts; I do our bookkeeping and work as a hands on foreman in the field; I make decision on a daily bases that effect our company and others … and [I] use my experience to make the most educated decision,” he added.

He said he believes townspeople were “beyond frustrated” with elected officials prior to the charter vote.

“A change was coming either way, but the people spoke and now we are embracing this new government,” he added.

Arment said he believes town employee contracts made during the past several years should be examined with more scrutiny in order to “make sure everything was done on a level playing field.”

Alan Brown, a former mathematics teacher for 35 years in the Springfield Public School district, who also taught at the MacDuffie School in Granby, said he currently serves on the Retired Educators Association’s Board of Directors.

He said he voted in favor the charter.  

If elected to the Town Council he would advocate for affordable living for senior citizens, specifically, fixed property taxes for “seniors in need,” Brown said.

“I know of several seniors that have moved out of town because of the increase in property taxes,” he noted.

He added he would like to explore ways to share services and equipment with neighboring communities and to curb the rising costs of cable television in East Longmeadow.  

Trey Cushman said if elected to the council he would bring transparency and accountability to the new form of government.

He added the charter drew his interest in representing the citizens of East Longmeadow.

“A more central, streamlined system that meets the growing town needs while holding the town manager accountable is an appropriate match for a prosperous [and] progressive community like East Longmeadow,” Cushman explained.

He would also try to advocate for more resident participation in the new government by actively listening to concerns from townspeople. This would be a top priority for him.

Cutler, a longtime member of the community, said he would like to bring a practice of more “fiscal discipline” to the town’s government if elected.

“With discipline and educated decisions, I work well with others to achieve a common goal,” he added. “I believe in my own judgment, but I also value the opinion of others.”

He said he believes the Charter Commission did a “fantastic job” creating the charter because it would bring more accountability to the town.

Cutler said he would advocate for property tax relief as a member of the council, but not at the expense of town services.

Kellie Marie Degnan said she believes she is qualified to serve on the council because of her passion for the community.

“I believe that in order to be an effective leader, one must posses a certain passion,” she noted. “And it is with passion that I feel like I can be a positive asset to our community.”

She said she initially had some concerns with the new form of government, but later realized after researching about the charter that there was a “potential to do great things.”

Degnan, a staff member at Meadow Brook Elementary School, said the staff and students in the East Longmeadow Public School District have a special place in her heart.

“I think it is very important to support our teachers [and] paraprofessionals,” she noted. “They are responsible for helping our children and should be given a chance to be successful in what and how they do that.”

She added she would also advocate against big box stores and drive-thru restaurants coming into town because she believes it would hurt the community’s “small town feel.”  

Jean Delaney, a resident of 37 years, said she believes she could bring insight and balance to the council.

“Decisions can be hard, but compromise is possible,” she noted.

She said she believes the new form of government would be more responsive to town needs.

“I would advocate that the council should place its priority on understanding and implementing the recently approved home rule charter,” Delaney noted.

Anthony Dieni, a veteran, student at Westfield State University (WSU) studying political science and the vice president of the Veteran Association at WSU, said he is devoted to the town.

“This town gave to me while I was deployed and the least I can do is try to thank East Longmeadow through my actions on the council,” he noted.

Dieni said the new form of government is a step in the right direction, but residents need to elect officials without political agendas.

“We need someone who will set a high bar for the town manager that will be [hired],” he added. “If we do this right and pick the people who care and listen to opinions and ideas from their constituents, then we will thrive. I am aware that many people are wary of the charter because it eliminates the Town Meeting. If I become elected, your voice will be heard and your ideas will be taken into consideration. It is the least I could do.”

Dieni said the council’s first mission should be to hire a qualified town manager who could envision a “bright future” for the community.  

“Next, we need to give [Police] Chief [Jeff] Dalessio the proper resources to keep our police officers safe and well trained,” he noted. “And that does not involve cutting the budget, like past officials have done.”

Dieni said he believes it is “imperative” that the town maintains a flat tax rate for residents and businesses.

Paul Federici said he’s qualified to serve on the council because he is the current chair of the Board of Selectmen and is serving his eighth year on the board.

“During that time I have experienced two dark period’s in the town’s political history and feel I have helped to weather both of those storms and keep the town moving forward,” he added.

Serving as selectmen has provided him insight into many aspects of town government, including policymaking and contract negotiations, he noted.

Federici said he’s believed for a long time that the selectmen were not able to provide full management of the town.

“I believe that this new form of government gives the town the ability to set policy and provide management, in conjunction with the town manager,” he added.

Joseph Croteau did not respond to requests for comment as of press time.

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