By Paul Tuthill
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-998786.mp3
Holyoke, MA – The city of Holyoke Massachusetts has a new mayor. Alex Morse today became the youngest chief executive in the history of the old impoverished mill city. WAMC"s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports.
22 year old Alex Morse took the oath of office to become Holyoke's 37th mayor in front of a cheering audience of hundreds of people in the auditorium of the high school where the new mayor graduated just five years ago.
In his inaugural address, Morse said he was grateful for the trust placed in him and humbled by the magnitude of the job ahead.
Morse mentioned three nuts and bolts priorities, improving the schools, fostering economic development and ensuring public safety. But the new mayor, who is unflaggingly optimistic is also setting out to change perceptions about his hometown and to boost the city's morale He called on people to rededicate themselves to the betterment of their community and to reject the long standing narrative which concludes Holyoke's best days are in the past.
Holyoke is known as the paper city, because its economy was once based on thriving paper mills, Morse said in the future Holyoke will be known as the digital city, with an economy based on arts, innovation and technology. The catalyst , he said will be, the high performance computing center that a consortium of research universities and high tech companies are building in Holyoke.
Morse's upset election victory last November brought a lot of attention, including national media coverage, and he acknowledged that spotlight has put the pressure on.
As Morse officially became the mayor of Holyoke, barely six months after graduating from Brown University, his proud parents, two brothers, and assorted nieces and nephews stood on the side of the high school auditorium stage. His parents , Tracey and Kim Morse said they always knew Alex, the youngest of their three sons was destined for great things.
In his inaugural address, Morse said he had..qoute..undying graditude for his family and friends who have encouraged him on every step of his journey.