THANK YOU FROM BROOKS FITCH

Rick,
Thank you again!
Your “Raymond A. Jordan” profile was informative and enlightening, about Ray, our Black political history, and future.
Your “story” also highlighted “Rick Hurst” as a friend and advocate, at the highest level.
“We appreciate you.

(And I appreciate you, Brooks, and all others who understand what I strive to do.)

MALO BROWN’S GAMBIT
I’m hardly impressed by incumbent Springfield City Councilor Malo Brown’s apparent sudden conversion to the religious way of life as reflected in his recent decision to join St. John’s Congregational Church. I suspect that his sudden conversion was probably motivated by his reasonable concern that his most formidable opponent for his Ward 4 city council seat, Willie Naylor, is a well-known member of a well-known church family, which includes popular School Committee Vice Chair Latonia Monroe Naylor. I suspect it wouldn’t be unfair to ask if Malo is a God-fearing man or simply a man in fear of losing a city council seat that many believe would be better served in the hands of one of his contenders in the upcoming September 13th primary election. (Pardon my cynicism)

THE PRIMARY BATTLES
There are only three primary battles in the combined city council and school committee elections including Ward 4 with incumbent city councilor Malo Brown’s seat being contested by Kenneth Barnett, Willie James Naylor and Beverly Savage. No other incumbent is facing so many challengers. I don’t know what it means that so many seem to think that Brown is vulnerable but, he might be!
Ward 4 incumbent city councilor Victor Davila is facing two opponents, Charles Whitaker Battle and Mary Johnson. Word is that Battle is struggling even though it is not his first run for political office, and Mary Johnson is expected to be Davila’s opponent in the final election in November. I can’t call it; but I’m surprised that Davila is even “on the bubble.”
The third challenged incumbent in the primary is District 3’s School Committeeman Christopher Collins who, as far as I know, has never challenged the school committee’s chairman, Mayor Domenic Sarno, on any meaningful vote, although the power on the school committee shifted to allow a Black woman, for the first time in Springfield’s history, to be elected Superintendent by the four minority members (I’m told) over the mayor’s and Collin’s and Peter Murphy’s (all White males) early objections. I don’t know anything about Collin’s challengers, which makes me believe that, like many challengers with low profiles, Stephen Carosello and Rosa M. Valentin probably will not pose a significant threat.

SOMEBODY SHOULD HAVE CONSULTED A LAWYER
When I read the July 26th press release from the New North Citizens Council Inc. (NNCC) terminating incumbent Ward 1 City Councilor Maria Perez, who is being challenged by incumbent School Committeeman Joesiah Gonzalez, who is also a NNCC board member, my first comment to the editor, who graciously shared the release with me, was “This is a lawsuit in the making.” And was I right! As the old saying goes, I have no particular “dog in this race,” but what a mess! Even the wisely modified August 1st release by NNCC Executive Director, Maria Ligus, won’t avoid the coming litigation nor will it help Joesiah Gonzalez in his fight to replace Perez on the City Council.

JUSTIN HURST IS BACK IN THE HUNT
Former Springfield City Councilor Justin Hurst, who ran a fine, but losing campaign for Mayor of Springfield, is running for City Council At-Large again. We hope it’s a prelude to another run for mayor. ■