SPRINGFIELD—Of the many races for ward seats on the City Council here, Ward 7 stands out a bit. The current occupant of the seat, Timothy Allen, was part of the original class of ward councilors elected in 2009. He has faced few opponents over the years and he has been in office ever since. Yet, the seat may also be the one where national agitation for generational change is most apparent.
Clodo Concepion, the Cuban émigré who made his life in Springfield and ultimately his way to the City Council, died Saturday. A presence in labor and a force in 16 Acres, Concepcion became the first ward councilor from Ward 5 in 50 years.
The ballot for Springfield’s first City Council special election since ward representation returned has now closed. All seven of the original aspirants for the empty Ward 5 Council seat have returned their papers for the race.
The hottest race involving Springfield at the end of summer could be one nobody saw coming. In the few days since the Election Commission released petitioning papers for the Ward 5 special election ballot candidates have flooded the field faster than Lake Massasoit has refilled its lakebed.
By Michael Lachenmeyer Correspondent-Intern When the 9th Hampden District was first established, it covered several small rural communities to the south and west of Springfield proper, including the towns of Agawam, Southwick, and Granville. However, over the course of the late 19th century, the borders