Candidates for town council introduce themselves – Reminder Publications

EAST LONGMEADOW With less than three months until the annual town elections, three residents have submitted nomination papers for the two open, three-year seats on the East Longmeadow Town Council.

Current Town Council Vice President Michael Kane, current member of the Planning Matters Subcommittee Connor OShea and current Town Council member Marilyn Richards are running for election on June 2.

Reminder Publishing reached out to all three candidates, asking for a self-written introduction to present to the town. As we move closer to the election, Reminder Publishing will be conducting a question-and-answer interview with each candidate to discuss specific town issues and their viewpoints on each issue.

The following is each candidates introduction.

Connor OShea

Im a lifelong resident of East Longmeadow and graduate of East Longmeadow High School. I work for Big Y as a software developer, which has given me strong problem solving, teamwork, project management, and communication experience. I graduated from Westfield State University with my bachelors in computer information systems and a minor in business management. A number of courses for the minor include accounting and financial management, which would be beneficial for the town during the budget process.

Over the past year, Ive taken a more active role in our local government. I served as clerk on the Town Manager Screening Committee, which was tasked with screening the applicants for town manager to provide the Town Council with finalists from which they selected our new town manager, Mary McNally. Presently, I serve as a member-at-large on the Planning Matters Subcommittee of the Town Council.

I have attended all of the Town Council meetings in person as an observer for the past ten months. I also attend Planning Board and School Committee meetings. I volunteered for ELCAT in high school taping various town government meetings. Furthermore, I earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2012, for which I led a food and personal hygiene drive for the East Longmeadow Pleasant View Senior Center. This has allowed me to become well versed in the issues and with the operations of our local government from a young age.

I look forward to representing the residents of East Longmeadow and bringing a fresh perspective to the Town Council.

Michael Kane

My name is Michael Kane and it has been an honor to serve the residents of East Longmeadow on the Town Council for the past four years. I currently serve as council vice president and I am asking for your continued support and vote on June 2 for re-election.

I am a lifelong resident of East Longmeadow and long term taxpayer. In preparation for my role on the Town Council, I have been active in the community by serving on several boards and committees. These include the Parade Committee, Civil Defense, Emergency Planning and Chairing Open Space. For the past 35 years, I have been appointed town constable.

My past and current work experience have also prepared me for the Town Council. I was employed by American Airlines as a pilot and department manager. Duties and responsibilities include hiring, conducting background checks, training, budgeting and day to day operations. I currently own and operate Aircraft Management Sales and Service and serve as president and owner of Cooks Building Supply. I presently serve as a part time law enforcement officer which has helped to increase my knowledge of critical public safety issues. This role has provided me the background necessary to actively participate in the regional dispatch transition and the recent acquisition of ambulances for our town.

My flexible work schedule allows me to devote approximately 25 hours a week to meet the requirements necessary for my role on the council. This includes strong collaboration with other town boards, meeting with concerned citizens, attending community events and participating on a variety of sub committees. I serve on the Budget Financial Oversight Committee and Licensing Committee. I have also served on our Planning Matters Committee and the committee responsible for the original town manager contract.

Our town budget is over $60 million dollars and my experience managing large businesses has given me the background necessary to run our community with fiscal responsibility. One of my main goals is to maintain an affordable tax rate that will enable current residents to remain in town. Additional goals include strategic town planning, balancing town growth, public safety support and community outreach. I remain loyal and committed to our town and look forward to serving you in the future.

Marilyn Richards

With the filing date for candidate nomination papers now behind us, Marilyn M. Richards, current member of the East Longmeadow Town Council, has announced that she is a candidate for election to the Town Council in the June 2 town election. Since her unanimous appointment to a Council vacancy last September, she has been hard at work addressing the needs of the East Longmeadow Community. I find that my skill set from years of experience on municipal boards and committees has prepared me well for this appointment and qualifies me to be an effective participant in any business before the Council.

Before serving on the Town Council, Richards was elected to the towns Planning Board for 11 years and previous to that, the Board of Selectmen for nine years, serving as both a member and a chairperson during her tenure. Her more recent municipal appointments include the Town Council Planning Matters Committee, the General Bylaw Review Committee, and the Zoning Bylaw Review Committee. She also served on the Council on Aging Board for eight years.

Multiple issues are facing our town. As some examples, I remain committed to providing a fiscally conservative budget that supports town services while not over burdening the taxpayer. I support developing a strategic plan that addresses land use, growth management, renewable energy, and necessary regulatory changes which will serve as a guide for future development. My committee work on the Mixed Use Village District bylaw is nearing completion. If developed, the integration of residential and non-residential uses within such a project will add a new living and lifestyle opportunity for the residents of East Longmeadow. Recently, the Town Council voted to join WESTCOMM Regional Dispatch, which, in addition to future state grant funding, promises to provide greater cost savings and better emergency response coverage for the town. Finally, the towns aging high school is in dire need of attention. Much depends on the results of the architectural study, the availability of state aid, and ultimately the vote of the people, as the town moves forward with this challenge. I pledge to work hard on these and all issues, to thoroughly review whatever information is before the Town Council, and to vote only in the best interests of the Town of East Longmeadow.

Within the community, Richards serves on the Board of Directors for Brownstone Gardens and was a former Grand Marshal of the East Longmeadow July 4 Parade. Before retirement, she was a pediatric cardiology nurse clinician at Baystate Medical Center.

Richards and her husband Norman have been East Longmeadow residents and taxpayers for 44 years. Their sons, Paul and Marc, are both graduates of East Longmeadow High School and UMass School of Engineering.

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Candidates for town council introduce themselves - Reminder Publications