As a result of the joint efforts of the Pioneer Valley Project, The Pastors’ Council of Greater Springfield, Greater Springfield, MA NAACP, the Divine Nine (D9) Fraternities and Sororities and the Springfield Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., an At-Large City Council Candidate Forum was held at St. John’s Congregational Church on August 9th, convened by Rev. Catharine A. Cummings, Pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church, Rev. Dr. Atu White, Pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. Dayhige M. Wright, Pastor of St. John’s Congregational Church and Bishop Talbert W. Swan II, Pastor of Spring of Hope COGIC and President of Greater Springfield, MA NAACP.
Of the 21 City Council At Large candidates who were certified by the Springfield Board of Elections to run for office in the upcoming Primary Election being held on Tuesday, September 12th, 13 candidates RSVP’d for participation in the forum. Those candidates were divided into two groups to address the audience.
The first group was composed of Charles Anthony Stokes, Jose M. Delgado, Willie J. Naylor, Debra Fletcher, Nicole D. Coakley, Juan Francisco Latorre III and Kateri B. Walsh (Incumbent). The second group was composed of Edward Nunez, Thomas A. Oakley, Brian Santaniello, Kim Marie Rivera, Gerry J. Martin and Tracye Linnette Whitfield (Incumbent).
The structure of the forum was that each candidate had 1 minute for opening statements followed by each candidate in turn answering each of the questions listed below one at a time and ending with all of the candidates having 1 minute for closing statements. The moderators were Rev. Dr. Terrylyn L. Curry Avery, Pastor of Martin Luther King Jr. Community Presbyterian Church and Wesley Days, Jr., Multimedia Journalist for Western Mass News.

1. How should we measure the success of elected officials in terms of race relations? What are the indicators or how do we assess one’s success?
2. What opportunities and community transformation would need to exist in order for black and brown people to thrive in Springfield?
3. As a city councilor, what legislative power will you have to improve the lives of residents?
   Each voter will be able to vote for five (5) City Council At Large candidates. Two incumbent At Large Councilors, Justin J. Hurst and Jesse Lederman, chose not to run for re-election to the City Council and are running for Mayor, which means that, at a minimum, there will be two new At Large members on the City Council.
   I urge all voters to go to St. John’s Congregational Church at www.mysjcc.org or go directly to their YouTube or Facebook page and watch the forum to further educate yourself on the positions of the City Council At Large candidates who participated in the forum. ■