Contests shaping up for city election in Greenfield 

By MARY BYRNE

Staff Writer

Published: 06-18-2023 3:05 PM

GREENFIELD — With candidates emerging for some of the higher profile elected positions in the city, including for mayor, City Council and School Committee, a handful of seats have yet to garner interest for the November election.

“I’m pleased to see we do have a majority of seats that have people willing to serve,” said City Clerk Kathy Scott. “[Residents] can still take out papers. There are still some positions that would be on the ballot that don’t have anyone that has taken out papers yet.”

Mayor Roxann Wedegartner and Precinct 3 City Councilor Virginia “Ginny” DeSorgher announced their candidacies for mayor earlier this year. DeSorgher, 71, announced her candidacy for the Nov. 7 election in March and Wedegartner, 76, who took office in January 2020, announced in May she planned to run for a second, four-year term.

Since that time, residents Stephen F. Snyder and Kenneth J. Thomas also have pulled nomination papers for mayor, according to the City Clerk’s Office. The last day to submit nomination papers with the required number of signatures is Tuesday, July 25, by 5 p.m.

Reached for comment, Snyder said his first objective is “to listen to the people of Greenfield.”

“I believe it’s possible for Greenfield to be able to grow in such a way that all people in the community are able to benefit,” Snyder said. “There is so much untapped potential here, and currently we face several challenges and crises, as much of the country is. We have the opportunity to make better choices. I stand firmly for civil rights, equality, freedom and opportunity.”

Thomas did not elaborate on his plans to run for mayor when reached by email earlier this month.

Residents Wahab S. Minhas, Jesus Leyva, Michelle Allenby and Precinct 1 Councilor Katherine Golub have pulled nomination papers for two open seats as councilors at large. This is to fill seats that will be vacated by at-large councilors Phil Elmer and Christine Forgey, who are not seeking reelection.

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Additionally, Emily Ballard has pulled papers to represent Precinct 1; David Moscaritolo has pulled papers for Precinct 2; Michael Mastrotaro for Precinct 3; and John Bottomley for Precinct 4.

Four residents have taken out nomination papers for three seats on the School Committee: Stacey Sexton, Ann Childs, Emily C. Piper and current School Committee Chair Amy Proietti.

Papers have yet to be pulled for three open seats representing the A.K. Warner Trust, a committee that meets each spring to determine recipients of scholarships for Greenfield students from financially challenged households. Of the three seats open on the Jennie Bascom Education Fund, a committee that administers the scholarship for Greenfield youth, two people have pulled nomination papers. And finally, there have been no nomination papers pulled for the opening to serve as the Elector Under Oliver Smith, an individual who administers the provisions of the will left by the wealthy Hatfield resident, Oliver Smith.

Nomination papers for the Nov. 7 election are still available at the City Clerk’s Office, which is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

“Even if someone has taken out papers [for a vacancy], you’re still welcome to come and take out papers,” Scott said. “All you have to be is a registered voter … We’re here if people have questions, they can call us and they can stop by and we’d be happy to discuss the process.”

Vacancies are as follows:

■Mayor, four-year term — 100 signatures required.

■Councilor-at-Large, two seats with four-year terms — 100 signatures.

■Precinct 1 Councilor, four-year term — 50 signatures.

■Precinct 2 Councilor, four-year term — 50 signatures.

■Precinct 3 Councilor, four-year term — 50 signatures.

■Precinct 4 Councilor, four-year term — 50 signatures.

■Assessor, four-year term — 100 signatures.

■School Committee, three seats with four-year terms — 100 signatures.

■A.K. Warner Trust, three seats with two-year terms — 25 signatures.

■Jennie Bascom Education Fund, three seats with two-year terms — 25 signatures.

■Elector Under Oliver Smith, two-year term — 25 signatures

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.

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