The first candidate hoping to replace retiring North Adams Mayor Richard Alcombright has emerged. The mayor announced last week that he would not seek a fifth term.
Tom Bernard, who lives in North Adams and works as the Director of Special Projects at Smith College in Northampton, announced his candidacy on Monday.
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“One of the things I want to do is pull back and look at what I think are some of the foundational and structural things that we need to address in order to have, you know, strong, sustainable economic development,” Bernard says.
The political newcomer, a registered Democrat, says his focus will be on education, infrastructure and public health, which will in turn generate economic development.
Alcombright said he is eager to make way for the next generation of North Adams leaders.