Voters in Holyoke, Massachusetts will elect the city’s first new mayor in a decade this year.
The two candidates on the ballot for mayor are Joshua Garcia, who is currently administrator in the town of Blandford, and Michael Sullivan, a six-term at-large City Councilor in Holyoke.
WAMC’s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill spoke with both candidates. Here is the interview with Sullivan.
Michael Sullivan
I've been on the city council now for six years, been active on the Finance Committee, and our development and government relations committee. And it's given me a really good insight as to what some of the problems issues are in Holyoke. I've been a lifelong resident of Holyoke. So I know a lot of it firsthand also, but also from a business perspective. And now from a governmental perspective.
Paul Tuthill
What about your experiences on the council? And also you have a business background as well? What about those experiences do you think prepares you to be mayor?
Michael Sullivan
Well, the experience on the Finance Committee was real eye opening. And it ties right in with my business background. You know, the mayor of the city is really the cel you know, in US cities are incorporated. And that's how I look at it. The the voters, the homeowners, the citizens are all the stockholders and really the City Council services, a board of directors. And but here's the Chief Executive Office officer. And one thing I learned on the Finance Committee, all the City Council can do is make cuts, it can't propose budget transfers. It, it can't make interdepartmental transfers or allocations as to how the funds are spent. All the City Council can do is cut the budget. So it all really stems from room number one from the mayor's office, the direction of the city.
Paul Tuthill
Holyoke is one of just a few cities in Massachusetts that lost population in the last decade, according to the latest census, what what would you do as mayor to to reverse that trend?
Michael Sullivan
Well, not much, not much. That population, that census only happens once every 10 years. So it's not going to count it again for another 10 years. Right now, I don't believe that the census was accurate. The participation level was not that great. And we're gonna pay the price over the next 10 years.
Paul Tuthill
Yeah, but historically though, looking back, Holyoke has been losing population. And so I guess my question is, what can you do as mayor to make the city more attractive for people to to live there?
Michael Sullivan
Well, that's a multifaceted question. You know, we can start with having more job opportunities, safer streets. Better looking city, but we have to, we have to take back control of our schools.
We have to provide a good quality education, all the basics. We've really got to get back back to basics as a city as a community.
Paul Tuthill
You mentioned that, I'm sorry. Go ahead.
Michael Sullivan
That's, that's okay.
Paul Tuthill
Yeah, we can expand on some of those things. Perhaps as we get a little further into the interview with you mentioned the Holyoke public schools, which have been under state receivership for I think it's about six years now. What would you do as as mayor to convince the state that it's time to return the school system to local control?
Michael Sullivan
Well, the first thing I do to convince the state is start acting as chairman of the school committee. We had a mayor who was absent from most of the school committee meetings during his entire tenure. I, this much I can tell the people of Holyoke is that I will never, ever miss a school committee meeting. I'm going to be there. I have had some interaction as a as a councilor with DESE, theDepartment of Elementary and Secondary Education. I want to find out from them exactly what the metrics are, what the achievable goals are, and what we have to do to meet them.
Paul Tuthill
I've asked the receiver on a couple of occasions just want you know, what are the targets, what are the goals that Need to be hit in terms of graduation rates and test scores and things like that. And there doesn't seem to be a firm answer to that you get the sense that that, that there is some firm Benchmark Number out there.
Michael Sullivan
When I said as, as chairman of the school committee, I'll be asking DESE that and asking them and ask them and at some point demanding an answer.
Paul Tuthill
Do you support the building a new middle school or replacement Middle School in Holyoke? And do you think that's something that the city can afford to do without impacting its tax rate?
Michael Sullivan
Yes, I absolutely support that. And, once again, I've been on the Finance Committee. Real bad mistake was made several years ago and the way it was presented to the public. We have bonds right now that are maturing, and the price of one middle school will fit perfectly in with our current cash flow and what we're already paying, and bonds that are expiring. So yes, it can fit in the budget. Absolutely. Without any increase in taxes.
Paul Tuthill
Holyoake is going to be receiving a second installment, I guess is how to describe it of the funding from from ARPA, the American rescue plan act. That is going to total I think, around $15 million. What were you what are your priorities for for spending that ARPA money?
Michael Sullivan
I believe we're more in the $17 million range
Paul Tuthill
Right, right, because you got the additional allocation from the from the county side, right? Yeah.
Michael Sullivan
Right. So my priorities aren't the glamorous things people sometimes look for. I mean, we've had a lot of rebuilding to do in Holyoke. And storm water separation is a big problem that's kind of running under the radar with everybody. We have to do sewer separation stormwater separation projects, the Feds gave us 30 years to get this done. But right now, mother nature, I believe, due to climate change is only given us 15 years, maybe less, but it's part of the infrastructure of the city. You can't build new houses. I mean, we talk you know, we go back to what we talked about with attracting people to Holyoke, you have to have affordable housing, you have to have decent housing. And you have to have room to rebuild, and you can't rebuild or build a new house on a crumbling foundation. And that's what we have, we have miles of water main replacement to do that's gone un-addressed for years. Some of some of the underground utilities in this city are 120-150 years old. And we've learned a lot in a pandemic fiber, fiber, optics, fiber, these are the backbone, you know, it should be looked at now as a vital piece of the infrastructure going forward. And we've got to look to increase availability throughout the city and affordability.
Paul Tuthill
So your goal is infrastructure, the city badly needs investment in infrastructure, right?
Michael Sullivan
Badly needs investment infrastructure, absolutely. And then investments in other programs that are available that will help with the schools with our use with giving young people an alternative to drug this gun violence and stuff. We have some great programs. Programs like in last a familia, Homework House, the Boys and Girls Club, the YMCA, that have become even more integral to our success in both the schools and what we need to do on a street level here in town.
Paul Tuthill
You mentioned building more housing. According to some federal statistics, almost 60% of the housing units in Holyoke are occupied by renters, and almost half of them are considered overburdened, meaning that they're paying more than 30% of their gross income for rent. What can you do to make housing more affordable in Holyoke?
Michael Sullivan
Well, that's a tough one. But the model I like and I think is achievable. And we've, you know, we've we've proven this, and it's one of the best success stories in history. Is the Churchill Homes project making ownership and the opportunity to have ownership available to more people.
Paul Tuthill
Because there's an interim or an acting mayor in office now, it's been decided that the winner of this election will be taking office on November 15. Is that enough time for a transition that typically takes a couple of months?
Michael Sullivan
Well, I mean, you know, previous transitions, you have an election. Normally. You have three months, November, December, yeah, two months. But right now, I'm ready from day one. I've run a large business before I've been involved in city finances for years now. So for me, it won't be an issue. Mayor Murphy has done an excellent job. Keeping things together. Right now. We won't be whoever is elected won't be taking office until the 15th. And Mayor Murphy's agreed to stay on for a few weeks and help out during that transition. Because we have to wait for the results to be certified anyways.
Paul Tuthill
What's your closing argument to voters as we as we approach election day? What's your closing argument to people who who may be undecided at this point?
Michael Sullivan
Well, take a good look at my lifelong track record here in Holyoke, you know, lifelong member of the community. 30 years of business experience, built my business from the ground up. Then involved in youth programs and mentoring for most of my life.The years I've spent on the city council and you know, throughout the decades, just my involvement throughout the city at every level. I'd like to thank all your listeners out there today and I respectfully ask for their vote on November 2.
