A little over three months ago, freshly relieved of his duties as a city councilor in Holyoke, Wilmer Puello-Mota was preparing for trial or a plea. Until he wasn’t. The state of Rhode Island was prosecuting him for possession of child pornography. Two days before he was to appear in court, his lawyer would much later confirm, Puello-Mota skipped town.
Cities up and down the Pioneer Valley swore in their new governments Monday. In two cities new mayors took office while a third formally began his full term.
The last election in Holyoke has ended Friday. A recount of the Ward 5 City Council produced the same numbers released in the city’s unofficial tally. City Clerk Brenna Murphy McGee announced that incumbent Linda Vacon has indeed prevailed over her challenger Guy O’Donnell.
Before a single voter had cast a ballot in Holyoke’s election, five seats were going to change. Voters filled those five seats, but they also overturned incumbents in two at-large seats, an extraordinary event for such a multi-seat race.
One Holyoke election is heading into overtime. Guy O’Donnell, who challenged Ward 5 City Councilor Linda Vacon in last week’s election, has filed for a recount. Fewer than 20 votes or about 1% separated the two in unofficial results the City Clerk’s office has posted.
HOLYOKE—Rebecca Lisi has not exactly been an insider. Yet, she is the candidate for mayor this year with the most experience in elected government—if fractional compared to some councilors seeking reelection.
HOLYOKE—Acting Mayor Terence Murphy announced Wednesday he will…not be a candidate for anything. Early this year, Murphy became Holyoke’s acting mayor succeeding former Mayor Alex Morse and Council President Todd McGee who very briefly acted as mayor. That came after Morse’s resignation and a flurry
Last week, Beacon Hill approved a new procedure to allow Holyoke to select an acting mayor other than the Council President. On Monday, the City Council made their choice. Ward 2 City Councilor Terence Murphy shall serve as acting mayor through November. Murphy’s appointment was
UPDATED 3/25/21 8:42PM: An earlier version of this post misidentified Councilor Vacon’s ward. She represents Ward 5 not Ward 2. Holyoke famously releases its ballot petitioning papers early in municipal election years. In 2021 one person was not among the scramble for mayor for the
UPDATED 3/18/21 11:13AM: To confirm Mayor Morse had signed the petition and to note that Northampton’s charter allows councilors to pick an alternate acting mayor from among its membership. After an hour of debate, Holyoke city councilors approved a home rule petition Tuesday night to