Holyoke election 2025: Recent filing deadline reveals competitive races
HOLYOKE — The local political races in Holyoke are coming into focus, and several feature new candidates. For some seats, voters will have to winnow down the field in a September preliminary election.
In Ward 1, current City Councilor Jenny Rivera is running against two people: Victor Machado and Jose R. Candelario. In Ward 5, three new people — Jens Michaelsen, James Rossmeisl and Aida Luz Oquendo Oquendo — are running for a seat on the School Committee because John Whelihan is not running again.
Voters will also choose members for the School Committee and City Council. Some current members are stepping down, and both new and familiar faces are running.
In Ward 3, City Councilor David Bartley is being challenged by Anne Thalheimer. In Ward 4, two candidates — Richard Purcell and Peter Diaz Jr. — are running because the current councilor representing that ward, Kocayne Givner, is not running again.
To get on the November ballot, candidates had to turn in their paperwork by July 29.
Several candidates are running unopposed, including Mayor Joshua Garcia, City Clerk Brenna Murphy Leary, and Nicole Marie Maisonet, who is running for the Ward 2 City Council seat, which was held by Carmen Y. Ocasio. Ocasio is not pursuing reelection.
For the City Council at-large seats, nine people are running, including six current members and three new candidates. Only the top six performing candidates will win seats.
Current city councilors Patricia C. Devine, Howard B. Greaney Jr., Kevin Andrew Jourdain, Israel Rivera, Michael J. Sullivan and City Council President Tessa R. Murphy-Romboletti are running to keep their seats.
Christopher Dunay, Jennifer M. Keitt and Mimi Panitch are also seeking at-large seats on the City Council.
Because more than two people are running for the Ward 1 City Council and the Ward 5 School Committee seats, the city will hold a preliminary election in September to narrow the field of candidates in those races down to two.
Voting on Sept. 16 will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at different locations in Wards 1 and 5.
Then, the municipal election will be on Nov. 4, said City Clerk Brenna Murphy Leary.
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