UPDATED 7/11/25 5:41PM: Council President Derby confirms he will assume the mayoralty upon LaChapelle’s exit.

Changing hats to Parks & Rec Conservation & Rec. (WMP&I)

Transition is coming early to the City of Easthampton. Mayor Nicole LaChapelle, who had announced last year she would not seek another term, will resign early to take on a new state role. Come July 21, LaChapelle will join Governor Maura Healey’s administration as Commissioner of the Department of Conservation & Recreation. DCR manages public lands, recreational facilities and parkways.

Although long active in Democratic politics, LaChapelle only entered elected office in 2018. As it did with countless others, Donald Trump’s first election spurred her to run for office. LaChapelle sought Easthampton’s mayoralty. She would guide the city through global challenges like COVID-19 and several sticky wickets particular to the Hampshire County city.

“The hardworking staff at DCR are the caretakers for our state, and I’m looking forward to joining the team,” LaChapelle said in a statement Healey’s office released. “Our forests, lakes, and beaches are at the heart of Massachusetts. I’ve had a front row seat in Easthampton, surrounded by so many of these properties.”

From the moment LaChapelle announced she would not seek another term—even if Trump returned—there had been speculation as to what her next move would be. Unlike some mayors, her reasons were not disgust or exhaustion with public office. Indeed, when she announced her exit, LaChapelle had just become head of the Massachusetts Mayors Association. Rather, life changes were on her mind and upcoming governing decisions might take more than another term to see through.

Still, speaking to WMP&I last year, LaChapelle indicated she would consider running for office again. The likeliest office—Congress—is not yet available. (Representative Richard Neal, whom LaChapelle would not challenge, was among those praising her appointment.)

Healey to LaChapelle: Welcome abord.(WMP&I)

Healey said she was “thrilled” LaChapelle had signed on.

Moving over to Healey’s administration will let LaChapelle continue to serve without ruling anything out down the line. That the governor tapped her to succeed outgoing DCR commissioner and former Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo is not surprising. She and Healey have had a longstanding political relationship. As mayor, LaChapelle supported several of the governor’s initiatives, including her push on housing.

“Our public lands also attract tourists from around the world and fuel our growing outdoor recreation economy,” Healey said in her office’s release. “Mayor LaChapelle understands the connection our communities have with our DCR properties. She’ll make sure they are safe, clean and accessible to all.”

An equally important relationship may be LaChapelle’s with Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. They met at Emerge, a program that trains women candidates. When LaChapelle took office, Driscoll was still mayor of Salem and they could collaborate as fellow chief executives. The Easthampton mayor endorsed Driscoll in the 2022 Democratic primary for lieutenant governor.

“Mayors know how to get things done,” Driscoll said in the release. After thanking Arrigo for his service, Driscoll, she waxed excited about LaChapelle’s joining state government.

Driscoll and LaChapelle go way back. (WMP&I)

“I know she will hit the ground running bringing fun activities to our kids and families, maintaining our beautiful outdoor spaces, and helping us stay cool and safe at our pools and waterfronts this summer,” Driscoll continued.

At DCR, LaChapelle will report to Rebecca Tepper, the Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The department itself is the product Romney-era mergers that took place to save money and remove duplicative and patronage-heavy agencies. Now, it oversees pools and recreation centers, parkways like Storrow Drive in Boston and parklands such as Chicopee Memorial State Park.

Prior to her election, the mayor had held education posts and, as an attorney, advocated for education and disability rights.

As mayor, LaChapelle’s biggest challenge by far was keeping Easthampton on its feet during the pandemic. That included pivoting to remote operations where possible while supporting residents through the concurrent economic crisis. However, the funding that followed gave the city a chance to capitalize on capital needs and better prepare for the shifting fiscal sands that would follow.

Although a touch earthier, Easthampton has many of the progressive politics typical of that side of the Tofu Curtain. Consequently, there have been a few ideological clashes during LaChapelle’s tenure.

As mayor, she sits on the School Committee. In 2023, the panel drew unwelcome attention after its superintendent search hit a snafu. LaChapelle, a staunch supporter of women’s reproductive rights, faced criticism for vetoing an ordinance to regulate crisis pregnancy centers. She had received advice that the ordinance was unconstitutional.

However, the governor’s release also highlighted the conservation work LaChapelle had done while at 50 Payson Avenue. It pointed to acres of new conservation and green space, improvements to city infrastructure during her mayoralty and progress on the city’s climate goals. This background will be essential to LaChapelle’s tenure in Healey’s cabinet.

“I’m ready to get to work preserving our public lands for generations to come,” she said.

We are so excited to welcome Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle as the new commissioner of @massdcr.bsky.social! Mayor LaChapelle appreciates the important relationship we all have with DCR. The role is more than managing public lands – it’s about fostering a special connection with the outdoors.

— Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs (@masseea.bsky.social) 2025-07-09T20:36:43.216Z

The race to replace LaChapelle had already been well underway before the governor’s announcement. Mayor executive assistant Lindsi Sekula, at-large City Councilor Jason Tirrell and logistics manager Robert Laferriere have already announced. Ballot papers only became available last week. Because Easthampton uses a form ranked-choice voting, the city has no preliminary and so its petitioning window is much later than most cities in the Valley.

Farewell! (via nepm.org)

Under the city charter City Council President Salem Derby would have the right to take on LaChapelle’s duties. However, he can also let the Council choose somebody else. On Friday, Derby confirmed he would take on the role as interim mayor once LaChapelle resigns.

Whether LaChapelle ever finds her way back onto a ballot, leading DCR could open up other doors within the secretariat. Western Mass Economic Development Council head Richard Sullivan, who ran DCR for former Governor Deval Patrick, was also a Western Mass mayor (of Westfield). He went on to become Patrick’s Energy and Environmental Affairs secretary and, briefly, chief of staff.

In the governor’s release, Sullivan said he, too, was looking forward to LaChapelle bringing her “municipal savvy and Western Mass bona fides” to DCR.