State Representative-elect Bud Williams should step down from the Springfield City Council when he is sworn in to the State Legislature in January. The voters of the 11th Hampden District have entrusted Mr. Williams to be their representative in the Massachusetts Legislature. This is a serious responsibility, one that deserves Mr. Williams’ full attention and commitment.

Likewise, there is a great deal of work to be done in Springfield, particularly on the City Council. Springfield residents deserve an at-large city councilor who is 100 percent focused and dedicated to addressing the business and pressing issues of the City Council and the city of Springfield.

If Mr. Williams does attempt to keep both the state representative seat and a seat on the City Council, it will undoubtedly lead to his performance in both of these positions suffering and less than satisfactory. Springfield deserves better than that. Mr. Williams should take his new responsibilities seriously and gracefully move on to his new seat in the House of Representatives and allow a new voice to serve on the City Council. It is the right thing to do.


William Toller
Springfield