Springfield’s longest-serving mayor, Domenic Sarno, is said to have seen Tom Menino as a model. He ostensibly envied the power, both official and political, the Hub’s former ruler wielded. Yet, in last week’s Democratic primary, a year on from the tightest mayoral prelim Sarno ever faced, he has shown himself no threat to his enemies.
SPRINGFIELD—After a race that veered into mendacity and nastiness at its climax, Democratic State Senator Adam Gomez bulldozed primary challenger Ward 4 Councilor Malo Brown to again secure his party’s nomination for the Hampden Senate District. Brown’s boss, State Representative Bud Williams, fared better.
Governor Maura Healey is weighing in on Hampden County’s competitive primaries, siding with incumbents in both cases. Senator Adam Gomez, who faces Springfield City Councilor Malo Brown in next Tuesday’s Democratic primary, released a statement from Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll Thursday afternoon.
In the final week of the Democratic primary for the Hampden Senate district, the race is moving onto the airwaves. Springfield City Councilor Malo Brown has purchased airtime on the Springfield-Holyoke media market’s broadcast networks. Senator Adam Gomez is not far behind.
From the moment the contest began the subtext of the Hampden Senate District’s Democratic primary would be who could represent it best. Therefore, it was probably fate that the battle between Senator Adam Gomez and Springfield City Councilor Malo Brown would take a nasty turn. That happened mid-August.
Five months after the Springfield City Council and Mayor Domenic Sarno forwarded an age waiver for now-Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers, the bill has finally passed Beacon Hill. What is moving to Governor Maura Healey’s desk is not what city officials passed in February.
As summer heats up, the Springfield City Council begins to slow down, holding fewer meetings than during the rest of the year. The body’s July 8 sitting was its only scheduled regular meeting until September. Despite the policy and finance-heavy agenda, there was little of major controversy before councilors last Monday.
The two surprise legislative races anchored in Springfield may yet rock political foundations in the city. However, on the fundraising front, the races are proceeding more or less typically for incumbent challenges. Both State Senator Adam Gomez and State Rep Bud Williams maintain healthy fundraising leads.
SPRINGFIELD—The Community Preservation Committee’s (CPC) recommendations for the coming year constituted much of the City Council agenda on June 10. However, consideration of the projects did not invite the rancor the other items before the Council did.
A transfer of free cash to reserves veered off-topic and became heated. By contrast, the sale of a city-owned railroad parcel prompted a barrage of accusations and nonplussed the chamber.
When the office of Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin completes the primary ballot for September, there should be few surprises in the 413. Despite some noises here and there, there were few if any last-minute entries that could upend the region’s delegation to Boston.