Letter: Vote to Re-Elect Macksey as Mayor
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To the Editor:
It's that time when voters will again get to make their choice for mayor. This year Scott Berglund is challenging Mayor Jennifer Macksey.
Other than being a political newcomer and a fairly new resident to the city, little is known about Mr. Berglund. I know he's twice defeated cancer and while I sincerely congratulate him on beating the beast, it is not a credential for overseeing a municipality with a $50-plus million budget.
He says if elected there will be "transparency" in his administration. Ironically, his campaign has been anything but transparent. Not once, even in the mayoral debate, did he cite any qualifications to be mayor. What experience does he have? What's he bringing to the table? In fact, what does he even do for work? I've never seen or heard that reported.
Throughout the debate with Mayor Macksey his replies to questions were riddled with "from what I hear", "people tell me," and "it's my understanding that ... ." Not one answer was specific to his personal knowledge of anything nor did he talk about any firsthand experience he has. He recited a wish list of things he'd like to do but not once said how he'd get them done or paid for.
On the flip side, Mayor Macksey has a strong financial and administrative background. Prior to being mayor, she served in several administrative roles in the city including treasurer/tax collector and has administrative backgrounds in education through positions at MCLA, Southern Vermont College and the Northern Berkshire School Union.
As mayor, she is not only the city's chief executive but is also chairman of the School Committee and School Building Committee. Under her leadership, the Police Department is now housed in an ADA-compliant facility; she worked with Berkshire Health Systems to re-open our hospital after 10 years; her administration obtained grant money for work on the Ashland Street corridor (including new sidewalks); the Brown Street bridge is slated to re-open and a new elementary school is being built with the majority of the cost being paid for by the Massachusetts School Building Authority.
Mayor Macksey is a lifelong resident of North Adams who knows its history and cares about its residents. She's not the Johnny-Come-Lately trying to persuade you that after just two years in town, he can fix things without telling you how. I urge everyone to join me on Nov. 4 in voting to re-elect Jennifer Macksey as mayor of North Adams.
Paul J. Moriarty
North Adams, Mass.
Tags: election 2025, municipal election,
