HOLYOKE — The city saw a slew of contested City Council races on Tuesday. Nearly every ward had competition for its council position and nine candidates ran for six at-large seats.
But as a result of Tuesday’s elections, two newcomers will make up the new faces on Holyoke City Council, while three former councilors will rejoin the 13-member body.
About 17% of registered voters cast their ballots, a turnout figure on par with past municipal elections, according to Kelly Lundgren, 2nd assistant city clerk.
In the at-large race, the six winners were: incumbent Tessa Murphy-Romboletti with 2,668 votes; incumbent Kevin A. Jourdain with 2,480 votes; challenger and former councilor Patricia C. Devine with 2,538 votes; incumbent Israel Rivera with 2,471 votes; challenger and former councilor Howard B. Greaney with 2,150 votes; and challenger and former councilor Michael J. Sullivan with 2,118 votes.
Incumbent at-large Councilor Jose Maldonado Velez was unseated in the election.
In ward races, incumbents topped their challengers. In Ward 1, incumbent Jenny Rivera topped Victor M. Machado De Jesus, Ward 3 incumbent David K. Bartley beat Anne Thalheimer, Ward 4 incumbent Kocayne Givner defeated Ruth I. Garcia and in Ward 5 incumbent Linda Vacon beat Guy O’Donnell.
In Wards 2 and 7, Council President Todd McGee and Councilor Wilmer Puello-Mota did not re-run for their seats. Carmen Yolanda Ocasio won the Ward 2 seat over Janelle Mojica, and in Ward 7, Meagan Magrath-Smith prevailed over Eileen Brady Leahy.
Meagan Magrath-Smith, left, and Eileen Brady-Leahy faced off in the Nov. 7 general election for the Ward 7 seat on Holyoke’s City Council.
Holyoke School Committee
Candidates also faced off in two contested School Committee races, vying for an at-large seat and Ward 4 seat.
At-large member and incumbent Erin Brunelle prevailed over challenger Luissette Arroyo Rosado with 3,042 votes to 1,360 votes.
In Ward 4, Gloria A. Caballero Roca, who previously ran for mayor in 2021, topped Faizul Johnny Sibdhanny Jr.
Gloria Caballero Roca, who ran for Holyoke School Committee, meets with the editorial board of The Republican, Sept. 3, 2021 during her mayoral run in 2021. (Hoang ‘Leon’ Nguyen / The Republican)
