I was reluctant to write this article and only did so at the last minute before Point of View went to press. One of the reasons I was reluctant is because there are so many things I’ve wanted to say that my instincts told me would be better left unsaid until after the November election. And I am still convinced that my instincts are right.
So, I still won’t say those things that need to be said until I feel the time is right although I don’t mind saying that some folks will not be happy with what I intend to say because they simply haven’t been right in this historic moment when Springfield, Massachusetts has an opportunity to elect its first mayor of color who happens to be Justin Hurst, an African-American attorney and educator who is perfectly qualified to change the trajectory of a city that has never quite risen above the cronyism that has stifled its growth and ran too many good people out of town.
Of course, Justin happens to be my son, the youngest of all of our three very strong, capable kids and arguably the most outgoing, friendliest, toughest and hardest working, which is why I believe he has met his moment in time and risen to this historic occasion that most, in our current and most difficult of circumstances, could not and would not even attempt. It is not easy to challenge a mayor who has been in office for 16 years even when that mayor deserves to be defeated.
But Justin has challenged more than the incumbent mayor of Springfield. Rather, he has challenged every dissatisfied citizen of Springfield who wants change—to grasp the moment, to seize the opportunity—to make a difference in the future of Springfield by going out to vote on November 7th.
Many of Justin supporters have already voted during the “early voting” period and to quote Justin from his most recent mailer and to encourage those skeptics who may not already be motivated, “If you vote, “we” will win.” And Justin is right because he has done everything humanly possible that one could expect of a candidate running to depose an incumbent mayor. And I am proud to be his most loyal witness.

The first rule of politics is that “everybody counts.” And the second rule is that “everything that should be done to beat an incumbent — especially one with superficial likeability — must be done.” And the third and golden rule of politics is that “you must raise the necessary money.” But all three of these rules require the fourth rule: “commitment and organization starting from the top.”
Justin Hurst didn’t skip a single one of the rules. He has done better than any single local politician of any color, gender or creed who ran before him in my adult lifetime, which, for those who don’t know, includes 50 plus years of political involvement with some of the best and some of the worst candidates. Justin is, by far, the best.
From the bottom up, Justin reaches out to everyone. His house, at any gathering, is like the United Nations. People flock to him because he is genuine and a leader and he has never been more tested than during this campaign for mayor of Springfield. It helps that he topped the ticket in most of his campaigns for the ten years he served as an at-large member of the Springfield City Council (two as its president). He learned how to govern and how to organize and how to reach out to people of all walks of life just as he did as a teacher and administrator in the Springfield school system before completing law school at Western New England University.
As you might surmise by reading the lines and in between the lines of this article, I am proud of my son, the candidate for mayor of Springfield. I’ve watched him grow and mature over the years. He found the right person to marry and they are raising two great kids. And as for his father, whose good fortune has been similar (though much tougher), it has been a wonder to behold! Justin Hurst can be a great mayor for Springfield. In spite of formidable odds, he should win the upcoming election which will be over by the time most have read this article.
But I’m not preoccupied by whether Justin wins or loses. And I’m not concerned about the few petty Black (too old to be bothered with) sycophants (Uncle Toms?) who are working against Justin in support of “massa,” or of the shortsighted, selfish politicians who have done nothing or have done everything under the table to defeat him even after he supported them, nor by those who have been “purchased” by the incumbent mayor whose amazing wind-fall luck is about to run out. Anybody who knows me understands that my only and overriding concern is that my son is “in the fight!”
“In the fight” where I have spent all of my life!
I’ve loved watching Justin discard the nonsense, organize the community, raise the money, effectively utilize the social media that is all but foreign to my generation and otherwise bring out voters that the incumbent mayor of Springfield never anticipated could be done because winning has always been too easy for him. He has never had a real fight. He’s got one now. And I’m proud to know that his worthy opponent is my son, Justin Hurst.
And, “if you vote, “we” will win!” “We” will win now or later. It doesn’t really matter when. All that matters is that we who care never quit. And for those who have played petty games with such an historic moment, you should understand that the “moment” never ends. We will see you down the road.
And Justin Hurst will still be leading the crowd that buries you in the dustbin of history. ■