Political consultants, pundits, and politicians paid attention to the off-year municipal elections in western Massachusetts Tuesday for clues to what voters are looking for heading into 2016 with the presidency and many federal and state offices at stake.
There were few surprises, or even close calls, for most of the mayors running for re-election Tuesday, but that does not mean they had an easy time of it, according to Springfield-based political consultant Tony Cignoli.
" We have all these urban challenges and we are in an age when everybody wants results, and when you are the chief executive that is what the electorate looks at," Cignoli said Wednesday.
Cignoli’s firm did not have any clients on the local election ballots Tuesday, but he said they did polling and research for candidates in future elections.
Cignoli said Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno’s re-election romp with 77 percent of the vote is very impressive even if it was against an inexperienced opponent who could not match the incumbent’s fundraising.
"Sarno is a legacy guy," said Cignoli. " He is looking to leave something behind when his time comes."
Sarno insists he took nothing for granted in this campaign, and sees the victory as a validation of his record in office.
"I am deeply humbled and honored, " Sarno said Tuesday night. " I live this job 24-7. People know where I stand. I wear my heart on my sleeve."
When MGM disclosed plans in late October to scale back the scope of the Springfield casino project it jolted the campaign. City Councilor Bud Williams worried out loud that “ our necks are on the line here.” He and other councilors started talking tough.
Cignoli said the MGM “October surprise” definitely had an impact.
" The indignation by Sarno, Bud Williams, Kateri Walsh and others was out there," said Cignoli. "The electorate wants that. They want somebody to fight for them."
All five at-large city councilors easily won re-election as did six of the eight ward councilors in Springfield.
In Chicopee, Mayor Richard Kos campaigned in his low-key style on his record in office – including his time as mayor from 1997-2004 – to beat former mayor Michael Bissonnette, whose more bravado style of governing had led to clashes with the city council and police department.
Cignoli said voters are looking for candidates with substance.
" Kos did not get into the muck and meyer, and the back and forth and we can see a lesson from that," said Cignoli.
Perhaps the most significant finding from the research done during this municipal election cycle is that the electorate is worried.
" We are seeing a lot of folks, middle class , who are extremely concerned about the future and it is the economy. These bread and butter pocketbook issues are very much on the minds of this electorate," said Cignoli.
