UPDATED 9/10/25 1:03AM: In the prelim, Davila and Johnson advanced to the general election. SPRINGFIELD—Since the return of ward representation on the City Council here in 2009, one ward has seen four people serve as its councilor. There are many reasons slightly more people have
Springfield City Council and School Committee hopefuls plied their political wares last week during an outdoor forum. Focus Springfield and White Lion Brewing organized and staged the event in the “Pridelands” beer garden, across Main Street from the brewer’s taproom in Tower Square. It may
Little more than two weeks after the New North Citizens Council (NNCC) axed Maria Perez from her day job, the Springfield City Councilor for Ward 1 has struck back. Allegedly defamatory language now forms the basis of Perez’s suit that names her former employer, several NNCC staffers and board members, including Joesiah Gonzalez.
The ghost of Eastfield Mall and the promise of its property’s future hovered over the Springfield City Council on June 2. The administration presented the Council with a District Improvement Financing (DIF) plan to help pay for infrastructure around the site of what will be Springfield Crossing.
Although only the City Council and School Committee are on the ballot this year, Springfield’s midterm elections had been shaping up into a competitive affair. However, no at-large Councilor is retiring and the odds of defenestrating an at-large incumbent are daunting. That may have changed on Friday. Former at-large City Councilor Justin Hurst pulled papers on Friday to reclaim a citywide seat on the Council.
The federal government has confirmed its cancellation of a $20 million environmental grant to the city of Springfield, but officials are not giving in. There is a formal, administrative appeal process. When city officials learned of the grant’s cancellation, it said it was considering all options. Since then, the city has been in touch with the office of Attorney General Andrea Campbell. That could add some firepower to Springfield’s response.
Last Monday, the Springfield City Councilors chewed over an unusual batch of appointments to the Water & Sewer Commission: all of them. Before the body at its regular meeting were confirmations for all three members of the body.
SPRINGFIELD—Relatively routine school matters occupied a substantial amount of councilors’ attention at its recent Monday meeting. Generally, school matters are not within the Council’s wheelhouse, per state law. However, there are notable exceptions and a few quirky items.
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.
The municipal political season has kicked off in Springfield. On Wednesday, School Committee member Joesiah Gonzalez announced that he would run for the Ward 1 City Council seat Maria Perez now holds.
The race will be a test for Gonzalez as much as for Perez, should she seek reelection.