Election 2015: North Adams Council Candidate Profiles| 05:57PM / Monday, November 02, 2015 | |
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There are a dozen candidates running for nine seats on the City Council on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The nine highest vote-getters will be elected.
Eight of the incumbments are running for re-election: Lisa Blackmer, current City Council president, is running for a fifth term, Keith Bona a fourth consecutive term, and Nancy Bullett a third term; Eric Buddington, Benjamin B. Lamb, Kate Hanley Merrigan and Joshua Moran - all part of the "young wave" of 2013 - are seeking their second terms, along with Wayne Wilkinson, a former longtime Planning Board member.
They are joined on the ballot by former councilors and mayoral candidates Ronald A. Boucher and Robert R. Moulton Jr.; Joe Gniadek, a retired high school teacher, former president of the Teachers Association, former Planning Board member and member of the Mobile Home Rent Control Board; and Robert Cardimino, who has tried unsuccessfully several time to get on the council.
Roger Eurbin, a Navy veteran who is a member of the Cemetery Commission and who initiated the Hill Side Cemetery project, has indicated he would stand as a write-in. Voters writing in any candidate's name must also fill in the oval box on the ballot for the vote to be counted.
There are also four candidates running for three open seats on the School Committee: Karen Bond, Tara Jacobs, Miles Wheat and Nicholas Fahey. Three participated in WNAW radio interviews and said they decided to run because no one else at the time had stepped forward.
Tara Jacobs has a background in marketing and management and currently has a daughter at Sullivan School. She is very active in the community and very interested in finding ways to support the city's students and educational system. Her first priority would be to ensure recess is available to all students for their mental and physical health. More information here.
Miles Wheat is an assistant principal at Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter Public School and will have children attending North Adams schools. He comes from a family of educators and volunteers and feels serving his community is a responsibility. He said he would work collaboratively with the committee to support the work of the education professionals.
Nicholas Fahey is a graduate of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and at teacher at Stamford (Vt.) School. He would like to learn how the administrative and government side work and believes his experience as a teacher would help inform the board in its decision making. He said he would look at policies with a critical and objective eye before making decisions in the best interests of the students.
North Adams voters are reminded that the polls open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, and close at 7 p.m. BCAC is providing free transportation to and from the polls; look for the van at these times:
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Brayton Hill Apartments – 9:00, 12:00 & 5:00
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Corner of Greylock St and Angeli St – 9:10, 12:15 & 5:15
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Wheel Estates – 10:00, 2:00 & 6:00
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Tunnel Brook Apartments – 10:10, 2:10 & 6:10
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Mohawk Forest – 10:20, 2:20 & 6:20
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Berkshire Landings – 10:25, 2:25 & 6:25
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MCLA Library – 10:35, 2:35 & 6:35
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High Rise – 10:45, 2:45 & 6:45
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St.Joe Court – 10:50, 2:50 & 6:50
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First Congregational Church – 1:00
We asked the candidates to offer some personal information and their thoughts on a number of issues that have been before the City Council or raised in the mayoral election over the past few months. Their responses varied, so not every candidate answered every question, but we believe they have provided enough information for voters to get a good grasp on their backgrounds, ideas and stands on a number of critical issues.
The 11 candidates who have returned their questions are listed below. All the candidates were also interviewed by on WNAW radio by Editor Tammy Daniels and appeared a candidates' forum.
Click on the banner to go to the candidate's profile page.
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