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North Adams Mayoral Race Is Rematch Of 2009 Bout

When voters in North Adams go to the polls tomorrow, the choices in the mayoral race will be the same as the 2009 ballot. Long-time mayor John Barrett is challenging current officeholder Richard Alcombright in one of the more intriguing races in the region this year.The two men running for mayor of North Adams combine for 32 years in the corner office. In August, John Barrett took out nominating papers to challenge Richard Alcombright, who ended his 26-year run as mayor in 2009.

“One of the big reasons why I decided to make a run for mayor again and basically come out of retirement is that so many people are not happy with the way the city is moving along and the direction that it’s going in,” Barrett said. “They put together quite a grassroots effort and basically drafted me to run.”

At the time, Alcombright was facing a challenge from artist and real estate developer Eric Rudd.

“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.”

Rudd predicted correctly and was knocked from the race in the preliminary election. Barrett took 51 percent of the vote and every city ward. Alcombright, who’s in his third term, says the 2009 race was the toughest one because he started running that April, while this one is more of a sprint.

“The thing that I’m concerned about is we’re seeing that divide again in the community that we saw back in 2009,” Alcombright said. “That’s unfortunate. I just hope that when this is done on Tuesday, no matter how it shakes out, that people will just continue to look and say ‘Hey, we’re still North Adams, we’re still one set of people and we still all love it here for varied reasons.’ At the end of the day, we got to come back together after this election as a community.” 

Barrett agrees the race has divided the city.

“All of a sudden the terrible, nasty things that they’ve been saying about me in the race to try to convince newcomers in this community that I’m some type of evil human being…I think that’s what’s been divisive in this community,” Barrett said. “One thing that we’ve come out of this campaign with is that we haven’t made those personal attacks.”

The abrupt March 2014 closing of North Adams Regional Hospital and the limited services that have returned since have been a major touchstone of this year’s race. Barrett says the hospital would not have closed the way it did if he was mayor.

“My position’s been very clear, I believe we need and have to have a full-service hospital in the city of North Adams for many reasons,” Barrett said. “It’s part of an economic development package as well as healthcare in the northern Berkshire area.”

Alcombright has stood by his advocacy during the return of outpatient services and an emergency medical center at the campus.

“Advocacy is what got us where we are today, no question,” Alcombright said during a candidate healthcare forum. “Do not think for one moment that your local and state leaders, or myself specifically, was not in the forefront of much of the restoration that we have had and that we continue to lobby for.”

Barrett has also charged that Alcombright’s administration has no economic strategy. 

“We have to develop more small businesses in the city,” Barrett said. “We have to have more diversification. We have to look at light manufacturing. Those smaller companies are locating in other places in Berkshire County. We have to look at more workforce development.”

Alcombright has pointed toward proposed redevelopments of old mills and the Redwood Motel along with a focus on downtown as key to economic growth.

“It’s a critical mix,” Alcombright said. “I think its retail, services and makerspace. The end result, the best thing you can do in a vibrant downtown is having people living downtown.”

Transparency and personality have also played into the race. The Berkshire Eagle endorsed the so-called soft-spoken Alcombright partially on the belief that he can best unify the community.

“I have this real fear if Mr. Barrett comes back into office that we’re going to end up with a government of one again,” Alcombright said during a debate at Drury High School. “I think we should all be fearful of that.”

Barrett says he offered to help Alcombright in any way possible after the 2009 election.

“I didn’t receive one call in six years so I guess your door is open and your mind isn’t closed only to certain individuals,” Barrett said. “I think that’s reflective of what happened to the rest of the community.”

Polls in North Adams are open from 7 to 7.

Jim is WAMC’s Associate News Director and hosts WAMC's flagship news programs: Midday Magazine, Northeast Report and Northeast Report Late Edition. Email: jlevulis@wamc.org
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