Ward 6 surprise: Write-in campaign rises after Holyoke School Committee candidate steps down
HOLYOKE — Pat Beaudry was all set to run for the Ward 6 School Committee seat this fall — and he didn't even have an opponent. But life had other plans.
Beaudry is moving his growing family to a bigger home outside Ward 6, so he's dropping out of the race and throwing his support behind Patty Norris Lubold, who's now running a write-in campaign.
"Life is truly what happens when you are busy making plans," Beaudry said in a statement issued on Thursday.
"While I'll never forget all of the Ward 6 voters who signed my nomination papers and encouraged me on, now is happily a time to prioritize my growing family," he said.
Norris Lubold has lived in Ward 6 for 28 years. She went to Holyoke Public Schools, just like her kids, and she's spent years speaking up for students with disabilities. She's also a strategic consultant — someone who helps organizations solve problems — and says she'll use that experience to help students, families and teachers.
Norris Lubold said in a statement that her goal running for School Committee is to make sure every child in the community gets what they need — safe schools and strong support for learning.
Families and neighbors deserve a say in decisions, and it's important to speak up for all students, no matter how they learn or what their needs are, she said.
"I believe with fresh ideas, attention to literacy, and a commitment to innovation, our schools can be better for all—especially those who need it most," she said in a statement. "As a mom who put two children through Holyoke schools — I witnessed disparities in learning outcomes and opportunity firsthand.
"Accessibility to education is not a luxury, it is a fundamental right and a shared responsibility of an entire community," Norris Lubold said.
Beaudry and Norris Lubold thanked longtime Ward 6 representative Ron Collamore, who has held the seat since 1976 — making him the longest-serving elected official in Massachusetts. As well as his time in the U.S. Army and Holyoke Fire Department where he served with Beaudry's grandfather.
Holyoke's municipal election will be held on Tuesday, Nov 4. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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