Springfield’s Ward 6 preliminary election pits two newcomers against a three-term incumbent

SPRINGFIELD – Candidates running for City Council in Ward 6 promise to focus on keeping tax rates from rising, increasing affordable housing and cleaning up neighborhoods.

In Tuesday's preliminary election, voters in the unique ward, which starts at the Connecticut River, runs east to West Allen Ridge Road and includes The X and Forest Park, will narrow the field of candidates for City Council from three to two.

Incumbent Victor Davila is running for a fourth, two-year term. He said he feels his work isn't done and he wants to give back to the city that gave so much to him.

He is being challenged by Mary Johnson and Charles Whitaker Battle, who are political newcomers but have been community volunteers through the neighborhood council, veterans organizations and other boards.

Also on the Ward 6 ballot will be a three-way School Committee race for District 3 (which includes Ward 7). In that race, newcomers Stephen Carosello and Rosa Valentin are running against incumbent Christopher Collins.

"I want to bring Ward 6 out of the past and I believe we have to pay more attention to the entire ward, not just Forest Park and Cozy Corner. I want to help the whole ward," said Battle, who lives on Dickinson Street.

Concerns about affordable housing and public safety in the ward made him especially interested in running for City Council. Battle, a business consultant who described himself as of retirement age, said he sees so many people who need housing, including veterans and those who are living on the streets and he has ideas on how the city can help to reduce that.

"I see places that can be improved. There are a number of apartments that are boarded up and they can be rehabilitated," he said.

Battle has been a community volunteer for years with multiple groups including serving as a mentor with the Western Massachusetts Veterans' Court and as a member of Gov. Maura Healey's Advisory Council on Veterans' Services. He joined the area's C3 Policing Forum, which made him more aware of public safety in the ward.

"I'm a veteran and discipline and accountability is extremely important," he said. "I think I have the tools to reach out in the community to find ways to prevent crime."

Johnson, 36, a lawyer who has worked in legal aid and immigration and now represents indigent clients, lives on Washington Street after moving to the city 11 years ago. She said her job has given her skills, such as research and bringing diverse people together, to be a good councilor.

Her priorities for improving the ward include focusing on quality of life issues, keeping property taxes low and ensuring mental health and substance abuse services are funded.

"I would say cleaning up the streets and sidewalks from litter is a priority. We need new ideas on ways to do that," she said.

"One of the things I would love is to have one of the safest communities in the country by 2040, but I think we have to talk about what safety is for the city," Johnson said.

If elected as a City Councilor, Johnson said she would also focus on trying to find new ways to increase revenue to take the burden off homeowners.

Davila, 54, a paramedic with AMR, has spent the past year or so working on trying to develop a better system to get the many nonprofit tax-exempt agencies located in the city to enter agreements to make annual payments in lieu of taxes.

"I'm working with (City Council President) Mike Fenton to explore the (payment in lieu of tax) agreements so we have a new revenue stream to decrease taxes," he said. "It is gradual, but it is gaining traction."

Davila, who lives on Firglade Avenue, said he has focused as a city councilor on quality of life issues and is working to compel business owners and absentee landlords to improve neglected or blighted properties.

"Springfield is a great city and when I came here it gave me a better life," said Davila, explaining why he wants to run again. He moved from Puerto Rico when he was 15 and was homeless and did not speak English but the city gave him opportunities to succeed.

In the long term, Davila said he would like to see a city with a better handle on the tax rate and see residents paying lower property taxes.

Johnson, who serves as the business liaison for the Forest Park Civic Association and is a member of the Interfaith Association of Greater Springfield, wants to work on improving community engagement and with it, doubling voter turnout.

"I want to see booming civic engagement in all its forms. Having so much participation people can't fit in the room," she said.

Battle said he thinks in the long term a lot more can be done downtown to bring in diverse entertainment, which can draw people to settle in the city.

Other cities such as Worcester have improved entertainment opportunities and he said there is great potential in Springfield, especially with the recent purchase of the historic Paramount Theater.

"I go to Hartford some Sundays to listen to jazz but there is nothing like that here," he said. "I love the theater. We have the symphony but no places for theater."

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