Early results: Holyoke’s November election matchups are set
HOLYOKE ― After Tuesday's preliminary election, incumbent Jenny Rivera will face challenger Victor Machado DeJesus for a Ward 1 City Council seat, and Jens Michaelsen will square off against Aida Luz Oquendo Oquendo for a School Committee post in Ward 5 in the Nov. 4 election, early results show.
Holyoke voters in Wards 1 and 5 narrowed the field Tuesday, setting up November races for City Council and School Committee amid low turn-out. Incumbent Jenny Rivera is set to face Victor Machado DeJesus for the Ward 1 City Council seat. (Provided photo)courtesy
Final election results were not available by The Republican's press time; visit masslive.com for final results, or see Thursday's print edition of The Republican.
Ward 1 City Council
According to unofficial results from the city clerk's office, Machado DeJesus received 62 votes, Rivera followed with 49, and Jose R. Candelario finished with 17.
Early results showed that only 129 people voted in Ward 1, even though there are about 3,868 registered voters.
Machado DeJesus ran against Rivera in 2021 and also tried to join the School Committee in 2024 after a member resigned. During his 2021 campaign, he spoke entirely in Spanish in an interview with Holyoke Media.
If re-elected, Rivera wants to focus on "affordable housing, better education and improving life in Ward 1." She also wants to work with local groups to help with "food, jobs and services for seniors."
Machado DeJesus has not responded to requests for comment.
Former U.S. Navy nuclear engineer, Jens Michaelsen will face off with Aida Luz Oquendo Oquendo for the Ward 5 School Committee seat. (Provided photo)courtesy
Ward 5 School Committee
In Ward 5, Michaelsen received 72 votes, followed by Oquendo Oquendo with 54 and James Alan Rossmeisl with 49, according to the early results.
There are 4,842 registered voters in Ward 5, but only 176 people voted, according to unofficial results.
Michaelsen, a former U.S. Navy nuclear engineer, said he's running because he has two kids in Holyoke schools and wants to make sure they get a good education.
"I wanted to make sure that I had the best opportunity to not only represent them but (also) my need as a father to make sure that my kids are getting a great education," Michaelsen said.
Oquendo Oquendo said, "With Holyoke Public Schools out of receivership, it's our turn to lead. As a 30-year resident and career educator in Holyoke, I will be a strong voice to ensure equity, opportunity and community involvement in our schools for our students' success."
She has a doctorate in education and has worked in Holyoke Public Schools for over 29 years as a science teacher, administrator, and vice principal. She also started a STEM program for girls and helped create the Latino Scholarship Fund.
In Ward 5, Jens Michaelsen and Aida Luz Oquendo Oquendo will compete for an open School Committee seat in November. (Provided photo)courtesy
Low turnout was expected
Ward 1 had a turnout of 5.8%, and Ward 5 had 7.1%.
City Clerk Brenna Murphy Leary said she expected low turnout, because only voters in Wards 1 and 5 were involved.
"We got fewer than 20 mail-in votes," she said. "Local elections have such a minimal and very manageable amount of mail-in ballots, where presidential are thousands, and we need to hire extra staff to handle them."
All four candidates will be on the ballot for the citywide election on Nov. 4.
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