Letter: Mayor Macksey Deserves Our Vote

Letter to the Editor06:30PM / Saturday, November 01, 2025Print Story | Email Story

To the Editor:

This November, the North Adams voters have big decisions to make. We have several new, enthusiastic candidates for City Council with diverse areas of focus and the desire to serve the city as it moves forward. It's wonderful to have a choice among so many qualified individuals.

We also have a challenger for the mayor's office: one who speaks about transparency and the need for change. Mr. Berglund has only lived in North Adams for about two years. According to his resume on LinkedIn, he's held various positions as a sales representative. He has no management experience to lead a small city's government and no financial experience to qualify him to deal with its budget. What he does have is a list of problems he sees in the city, though he offers no solutions.

It's easy to point out what needs to be fixed. There are many instances of maintenance and repairs that have been passed along by prior administrations. We need someone who will not only listen to the people of North Adams and understand their concerns, but who also has the know how to do what needs to be done.

Jennifer Macksey is a lifelong resident who knows the struggles North Adams has been through. She possesses an educational and professional background that enabled her to get to work the day she took office.

It's not enough for a candidate to be a nice guy or to have good intentions. The mayor of North Adams must have education, experience, ideas, and a plan to put those ideas into action. This is not a position for on-the-job training. The stakes are too high. Mayor Macksey has proven she is up to dealing with the challenges North Adams faces.

I believe that Mayor Macksey is putting her skills to work for what she believes is the best course for North Adams and has shown she is willing to listen and adjust course when the people of North Adams disagree.

Mayor Macksey has proven her ability to be an effective mayor. She has my vote, and I hope you'll cast your vote for Jennifer Macksey for mayor of North Adams.

Deborah Benoit
North Adams, Mass.

Tags: election 2025, municipal election,

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Berkshires Remember First Responders, Military Personnel Lost at 9/11 and Aftermath

By Jack Guerino & Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
02:30PM / Friday, September 11, 2026

North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey, with Fire Chief Brent Lefebvre speaks at Friday's memorial.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The county's two cities held memorials on Friday morning to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

Great Barrington was scheduled to hold a dedication of piece of steel from the World Trade Center at 6 p.m.

North Adams held its ceremony in the fire station's side garden starting at exactly 8:46 a.m., the time Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center's North Tower.

The small square of grass was packed with police officers, firefighters, wire and alarm personnel, dispatchers, and Northern Berkshire EMS employees, and city employees, officials and community members.

After the ceremonial tolling of the bell, an honor guard presented the colors.

Mayor Jennifer Macksey said it felt odd welcoming people to a very solemn event.

"What happened 25 years ago put a mark on emergency services. It put additional pressure on police, fire, EMS, and dispatchers," Macksey said. "While we remember those who lost their lives during 9/11, and those who ran to help as many as they could during 9/11, we have to pause and appreciate those who continue to serve despite that awful threat that occurred 25 years ago."

She said it was a direct attack on the United States and all of its people.

"It was a question of our freedoms and our ability to be safe in our communities," the mayor said. "I can say today that here in North Adams, it could happen to us, but I know with the professionalism of our Fire Department, Police Department, EMS, and our dispatch team, we are a better community; we are a safer community than we were 25 years ago."

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