The trouble erupted after City Council Tracye President Whitfield failed to immediately recuse herself from consideration of a street discontinuance. She co-owns the entity that owns a property that would grow once the city discontinues the street. Plus, her son was presenting the item. While she did not vote on the item, her time briefly presiding during consideration means the Council must purge its vote to terminate the street.
SPRINGFIELD—Tracye Whitfield started her fifth term as an at-large City Council by taking a second office: City Council President. In doing so Monday, she became the first woman of color to lead the municipal legislature here. Although historic, a fact that inarguably filled the city’s biennial inaugural exercises, it was hardly the only takeaway Whitfield intended people to have.
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.
SPRINGFIELD—There was no arithmetic grinch to upend at-large Councilor Tracye Whitfield’s march to the council presidency Monday night. Indeed, despite the doubt heading into the evening, the informal election of the body’s leader for 2026 occurred quickly and with little fanfare. As a result, Whitfield is on track to become the first woman of color to serve as City Council President here.
The substance of 2025’s last meeting, however, had its twists and turns.
Since the Springfield City Council initiated the city’s adoption of the Community Preservation Act (CPA), the body has been widely supportive of it and the Community Preservation Committee created to identify projects to fund. By no means have councilors turned their back on the CPA or CPC, but the tension over an allocation at the December 1 meeting was notable.
Johnnie McKnight announced Monday he is trying to run for State Rep again, but he might get a much warmer reception this time.
The main reason for this is McKnight trailed Williams by only 245 votes in the 2024 Democratic primary. The result surprised political observers and may get him more support this time.
Returning after the somewhat stunning election results, the Springfield City Council waded through a short agenda on November 17. To the extent there were any long colloquies, they were about a cybersecurity contract for the schools, the fate of Focus Springfield and revisions to the city’s food truck regulations.
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.
HOLYOKE—Two years after making history as the Paper City’s first Latino mayor, Josh Garcia has won reelection and upended city politics again. It was one of many surprises that ripped through the 413 Tuesday night, matching some of the energy, enthusiasm and, above all, change voters are demanding from this Commonwealth to the Commonwealth of Virginia.
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.