I am excited to announce my decision to rerun for election in order to continue addressing critical issues that our community faces. Among these issues, I am particularly focused on implementing rent control policies, addressing the problem of slum lords, tackling homelessness, ensuring public safety, promoting job creation, and maintaining a diverse City Council. Creating more job opportunities is vital for the growth of our city. I am committed to attracting new businesses, supporting local entrepreneurship, and investing in vocational training programs to equip our residents with the necessary skills. Together, we can create a thriving economy that benefits everyone. I strongly believe in the power of diversity and representation. I will continue to ensure a diverse City Council by promoting inclusion, equal participation, and respect for all voices. Encouraging candidates from various backgrounds to run for seats on the Council will help us make decisions that truly reflect our community's diversity. I am eager to engage with constituents, listen to their concerns, and effectively communicate my plans. With your support, we can make a real difference in addressing these pressing issues and building a stronger, more vibrant community. Thank you for your trust, and I look forward to earning your vote in the upcoming election.  More about Councilor Jenny Rivera

I am a resident of the city of Holyoke and employed in the medical field. I have been married for 30 years and I am the mother of two
young men who are exemplary members of the city.
As a resident of my beloved community, I have been participating in different activities in order to collaborate and intervene with everyday situations and needs. The elderly, the children of limited
resources and the homeless have motivated me to be a tool of their lives in the face of their needs.For example, I have partaken in events for food donations and adopting families at Christmas time to bring joy and gifts to people in our community both adults, youth and children. Moreover, on several occasions I have participated in the donation of backpacks with school supplies for the return to school because every child deserves to have what it takes to succeed academically. In addition, I have cooperated with donations to churches that provide social and economic assistance to members of our community. Finally, I have participated in defense of housing and payment of affordable rent for low-income people.
My community means a lot to me. For this reason, I am running to represent the people of my city. With your support, united, we will work to transform our city of Holyoke. More about Jannelle Mojica

My goal is to make local government more responsive, responsible and respectful, and by doing so increase resident engagement, ensure we have broader representation on City Council, and bring a new and innovative voice to the process. I want municipal government to become something residents want to participate in, rather than something inaccessible, contentious, and difficult to follow. I’m running because I can be the catalyst for this change.

In 2017 I created a Ward 3 Neighborhood Association group. In addition, I am a long-term member of the Holyoke Local Cultural Council and serve as the co-Chair. I am a proud union member (1199 SEIU) and have been involved with a number of initiatives in Holyoke, including Wayfinder’s (formerly HAP Housing) Resident Leadership Program, voter outreach and education, and protecting free speech in the city. I’m an artist and educator who brings compassion and innovative thinking to my work; it’s an approach I believe our municipal government needs more of, not less. We don’t have to have City Council meetings that are four hours long and difficult to follow; we need a local government that directly and efficiently responds to the needs of the people it serves.

 More about Anne Thalheimer

As a first-generation college grad and American citizen I have a unique appreciation for the struggles experienced by immigrants, people of color, and low-income households. I have lived in Holyoke on and off since the mid 90s. With struggle, a bit of luck and a first-time homeowner program, I bought my home in 2005. I was a repeat offender when it came to requests for traffic studies, needs for crosswalks, speed traps, and parking enforcement. Now, having been in office, I understand why Holyoke has had a hard time taking care of basics. As difficult as many initiatives are to implement, I haven't stopped pushing for more public trash receptacles, clean parks, and a Traffic department at HPD to hold speeding commuters accountable. I will also continue to support the actions of our Board of Health and Flex Squad to hold owners of run down and empty buildings accountable. 

I’m running to continue representing Ward 4. My understanding of how city government works is an asset to Holyokers. I am well equipped to continue fighting the good fight and look forward to getting into more good trouble for my Ward 4 community! More about Councilor Kocayne Givner

I’m in this race to stand up for working families like my own. It is unfair that families can work hard and still struggle to make ends meet. I have two sons in the Holyoke Public Schools, one at Sullivan and one at McMahon, where I have volunteered for the last 5 years. I’ve seen how amazing the teachers and staff are and how they aren’t provided with the tools they need to ensure that every student gets the education they deserve. At the city level, I’ve watched as our leaders fail to prioritize protecting the environment for our children's’ future. We should be leading the way in fighting climate change and preparing for its consequences.

I’ve also seen the power of a community coming together to help one another. I grew up in a Habitat For Humanity house. My dad got better wages and safer working conditions when he joined a union. It was only after joining the union that we were finally able to afford braces. Coming together as a community can make a real difference in the lives of everyday working Holyoke families, and we must fight for a brighter future for all of our kids. That’s the leadership I will bring to City Hall.

 More about Guy O'Donnell

One of the skills I am most proud of is my focus on communication. Even a casual observer of our City Council notices that this is a struggle way too often. It’s an issue between councilors, between the Council and other city staff and board members that we need to work with, and even between the Council and members of the public. When I would watch meetings before I got elected, I was often embarrassed by what I saw. It was a complaint I would often hear from others I spoke to when I ran my first time. I have never expected to agree with everyone all of the time, but I believe the best way for our city government to be most effective is by hearing people out, working to understand where someone is coming from, and finding ways to work together whenever possible. I think this approach has also helped me when trying to find solutions for the concerns that the people I represent bring to me. The best part of the past six years serving on the City Council has been the opportunity to serve people directly, whether it is by filing an order on their behalf, connecting them with city departments, or just being that someone they can vent to. I am running again because our city government has more room to grow and more ways to be effective. More about Councilor Juan Anderson-Burgos

Meg Magrath-Smith is a mother of two, wife, educator, and citizen in full. She is the chair of Holyoke’s Community Preservation Act (CPA) Committee and has also served on Mayor Garcia’s Transition Team, the Green Holyoke Mayoral Advisory Committee, and the City Waste Advisory Committee. In these roles, she has proven her effective and skillful engagement in advancing the interests of the community. Now she is running to represent Ward 7 on Holyoke's City Council. More about Meg Magrath-Smith