To the editor:

Nearly two weeks have passed since the North Adams election and I continue ask what I could have done differently and ponder if it was all worth it.

Running for mayor of the city of North Adams was a unique and life-altering experience. Moreover, it is an experience that I know I was privileged to have. First, to run for office takes time. My family was supportive and provided me the space for what my daughter called "mayor stuff." My employer also allowed me to take the time off that I needed, which meant exhausting my vacation and eventually taking leave with pay. I clearly understand that many in North Adams may not have this option. Then, there is the scrutiny of being in the public eye and quite literally having your face splashed all over on mailers, on social media, on posters and even a billboard. And, did I mention social media? I will not even go there.

I share all of this, because in the end, I believe it was worth it. I witnessed the beauty, the grit, the passion, and the inner workings of North Adams that I will forever cherish. In just a few months, I met with so many dedicated professionals across our city – our city councilors, city department heads, school officials, business leaders, social service agencies, religious leaders, and many others who reached out and asked to meet. I had interviews and responded to as many media requests as possible. I met with neighboring community leaders who shared their issues that together affect our region. Then there was the canvassing, which I enjoyed most. Talking directly to voters and catching them at home was an opportunity to hear it all! I heard about addiction impacting families and neighborhoods, the difficulty of parking, the vacant properties, the history of each neighborhood, the playgrounds and sports fields, the lack of public transportation and suitable housing, our failing public safety building, the uncertainty of our public schools, and even climate change. You name it, I am sure I talked about it with someone.

In between meetings and canvassing, I developed plans for the many facets of running a city and researching different programs and opportunities available. This was the exciting part – thinking and planning for what is possible for North Adams. This was not done in a vacuum. I had a team – an incredibly dedicated team with diverse talents and organization for which I am eternally grateful.

I am sure Mayor-elect Macksey is equally thankful to her team and this is what I want to acknowledge. Because of this race and our teams, our platforms were sharpened and we did not take any voter for granted. We must now work together and not take our city for granted. Our issues did not go away when this race ended; instead, they were heightened and put into focus. It will now be our responsibility to work together toward solutions for the betterment of our community.

What this means for each person will differ, but it is my hope that we will look past this race and dedicate ourselves to our collective future. We need knowledgeable and committed people to work in city government, to volunteer on city boards, to be civically engaged in issues affecting our city, and to support our community in every way possible. The future of our city depends on all of us staying involved in the city we care so deeply about.

Lynette Bond
North Adams, Mass. 

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