City of Northampton

To some, he was the man who braved the Connecticut River in a giant pumpkin in 2023. To others he was an award-winning snow and ice sculptor. But over weekend, it was clear: to hundreds, if not thousands, Dave Rothstein was a friend.

After serving Ward 5 in Northampton, Massachusetts, for the past six years, outgoing City Council President Alex Jarrett says he plans to stay engaged in the community – all while exploring ways to heal divisions in a city that’s seen tumult both inside and outside the council chambers.

Tuesday’s elections featured plenty of incumbent mayors sticking around in western Massachusetts – though just barely in Northampton. And in Easthampton, with no incumbent on the ballot, voters picked the city’s 4th mayor in 30 years.

Coming to a close in less than two weeks, two campaigns seeking the mayor’s office in Northampton, Massachusetts are in the final stretch – featuring the incumbent and a challenger looking to unseat her. Both squared off in a forum this week. WAMC’s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief James Paleologopoulos reports.

In Northampton, Massachusetts, the table appears to be set for this November’s elections. That includes the mayor’s race, with Tuesday’s preliminaries narrowing the field to the incumbent and a longtime local business advocate.

Ahead of a preliminary election, four mayoral candidates in Northampton, Mass., talked problems and solutions at a forum – making their pitches to a packed community center before the field’s slimmed to two.

In three weeks, voters in Northampton, Mass. will vote to pare down who will be on the ballot this November, including a crowded mayoral race. Ahead of time, candidates will take part in a forum Tuesday night to talk city issues and how to tackle them.

Northampton, Massachusetts is set to hold a preliminary election this September – slimming down the fields for several races. That includes the mayoral race and its four candidates – among them: political newcomer Dan Breindel. Looking to unseat current-Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, he spoke with WAMC about his candidacy, his campaign and a wave of candidates that, if elected, could reshape city hall.

Hundreds of blue and white bikes are back and rolling now that a popular bike share program has relaunched in western Massachusetts.

A $3 million budget override question intended for voters in Northampton, Massachusetts this fall has been rescinded – following a special city council meeting.