The former longtime mayor of North Adams is getting back into politics. John Barrett, who served from 1984 through 2009, has taken out mayoral nominating papers.Barrett joins a field that includes his successor, three-term incumbent Richard Alcombright. Barrett took out papers Tuesday, according to the city clerk’s office. He did not return a call seeking comment Wednesday. Artist and businessman Eric Rudd admits a run by Barrett hurts his chances.
“Now Dick [Alcombright] can say to supporters ‘If you don’t vote for me, if drift and maybe vote for Rudd, you’re going to be helping John Barrett,’” Rudd explained. “And John Barrett is going to say the same thing to his people so we’ll get back to the same two camps and people will be afraid of breaking out and doing something different.”
Richard David Greene and Nik Lareau also took out nominating papers which must be returned with 50 voter signatures by August 20th to be certified.
