WEST SPRINGFIELD – The four district councilors are all running unopposed in the Nov. 2 election. For District One, Michael Scott Eger; District Two, Michael John LaFlamme; District Three, Anthony R. Distefano; and District Four, Daniel M. O’Brien. Eger, Distefano and O’Brien are incumbents.

In advance of the election, in an effort to inform voters, Reminder Publishing asked all candidates the same series of questions on their candidacies and visions for West Springfield.

Below are their responses, organized in alphabetical order by last name.

Reminder Publishing (RP) Why have you decided to run for District Councilor?

LaFlamme: I am a lifelong District Two resident and bought a home here last year. I love District Two and feel invested and attached to this community. I believe my combination of government and small business experience makes me a qualified candidate that will be an effective and dedicated councilor.

O’Brien: I am the current District Four Councilor and running for my fourth term. I decided to run again because I see a lack of independent thought on the Council, an unwillingness to question, a race to consensus and members with agendas that forget the average citizen. It takes a full term to understand the process and duties required to function effectively. The council is supposed to be a check on power, an advocate for the average citizen so they have a chance at being heard and their issues advocated.

RP: If you are elected, how do you plan to work with other members/constituents?

LaFlamme: I will be responsive to constituents and attentive to their concerns. They can provide a valuable perspective on what issues are prevalent in the community and I will collaborate with them to address these issues as they are discussed and brought to my attention. I will not forget that I am elected to serve them and their interests and will take responding to them and researching community issues very seriously.

I will be respectful when working with other councilors, whether we agree or disagree on a particular matter, and look forward to learning from those with council experience. I will do my best to collaborate with councilors with similar goals and common priorities to make progress in town.

O’Brien: My philosophy on constituents is to return every call or inquiry within twenty-four hours. I then try to frame the problem and gather information for a solution or at least an answer. I always view their problem as “would I want this happening to me?”

In regard to my colleagues, they can anticipate me to continue to be the one dissenting vote if I disagree, to ask questions that make them uncomfortable and never put the taxpayer second.

RP: What issues have you seen within the town that you wish to address?

LaFlamme: I have had the privilege to speak with many District Two residents during the campaign. Traffic, affordability, and public safety have been three of the most discussed issues thus far. Residents want safe and upgraded roads to drive on, well-equipped public safety departments to respond to their calls, and a town that is affordable to live in and spends and invests their tax dollars wisely.

O’Brien: The list is longer than you will allow. Suffice to say each issue, particularly budget and quality of life have my full attention. Every bureaucracy has the tendency to dictate from self-interest and influence. The City Council at its best advocates for the individual. The three P’s every taxpayer should expect, pavement, plowing and potholes fixed.

RP: How can you/the city support small business development and expansion?

LaFlamme: The pandemic has greatly impacted small businesses. My family owns a small business in town and I can relate to the struggles that they regularly confront. Every industry has been impacted differently, so I will take an open-eared approach to understand their needs and areas of concern. I will review existing and proposed policies while seeking the business community's opinion to support pragmatic and efficient proposals that do not severely disrupt or bankrupt small business operations.

O’Brien: Because we host a couple of big box stores, people tend to forget that 94 percent of the business in town is small business. They are the most courageous people, because every day they have to produce. They pay 1.5 percent of the tax base and have to contend with rules and regulations that at times seem to be in place just to make things harder.

The City Council as it stands, does try to advocate for the issues of small business and is acutely aware that we owe our businesses a large measure of respect and gratitude for their efforts to succeed in our town.

The polls will be open for voting on Nov. 2. For information on in-person early voting, visit https://www.townofwestspringfield.org/government/departments/town-clerk/elections.

For those who would like to vote by mail, visit https://www.townofwestspringfield.org/government/departments/town-clerk/elections to complete the application and submit it to the Town Clerk’s Office by Oct. 27.

Eger and Distefano did not reply to questions as of press time.