Given a review of recent history in Springfield, 2025 may have expressed the disgruntlement many expected in 2023. However, the reasons may not be particular to the City of Homes. A foul wind from Washington was blowing and perhaps coloring the municipal electorate as much as anything. Courts also played a larger role in the city’s political fortunes than they had in years.
Gerry Martin’s tenacity may explain the lopsidedness of his victory over Tim Allen. Yet, something bigger seems to be afoot in Springfield.
Two School Committee members lost their seats and an incumbent at-large Councilor was squeezed out.
The midterm municipal election in Springfield is off to a brisk start. Several races are developing only days after ballot papers became available. Challenges to some incumbents have been incubating for some time either publicly or quietly. Since the Election Commission opened the petitioning window on Friday, it appears even more officials could face opponents.
Anybody looking for drama in the midterm elections in Springfield last week only found disappointment. No incumbent seeking reelection lost their race despite several facing not-a-joke challengers.
SPRINGFIELD—The only contested School Committee district race here began in earnest Wednesday night with Ayanna Crawford formally launching her bid. She seeks the seat that covers Wards 2 and 8, but in doing so she is challenging incumbent Peter Murphy who has weathered many a challenger emerging victorious each time.
Barring any signatures challenges, the midterm ballot in Springfield looks ready to go and two prominent open races will want for competition. Moreover, the field will be thin enough to avoid the need for a preliminary. Still, a full complement of contenders will challenge at-large councilors and half of the ward Council seats will have races.
UPDATED 12/7/2020 8:07PM: A previous version of this post incorrectly identified Williams as vice-president this year. He was vice-president in 2019. The conclusion of the 7th Hampden House race means an end to the 2020 cycle in the Pioneer Valley. However, part of that district,
More than a hundred years later, Springfield City Hall remains a solid piece of construction. Even as maintenance of the larger Municipal Group to which it belongs has waxed and waned, the strong stone construction remains a tribute to the city’s brighter past. However, 36 Court
SPRINGFIELD—The 9th Hamdpen Democratic primary shares some similarities with Peter Murphy’s run for the School Committee seat that covers wards 2 & 8. A great deal of those wards are in the district and Murphy has experience in low turnout electoral affairs. However, in other
SPRINGFIELD—On Edward Collins’s hand is a faded scar from a conveyor belt injury he sustained at the power plant that dominates the West Springfield skyline. That scar also marks the beginning of his path from rank and file unionized worker to a prominent figure in