Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno wins reelection; opponent Justin Hurst vows to continue fighting

SPRINGFIELD — Mayor Domenic J. Sarno walked into his headquarters to the sounds of Frank Sinatra playing in the background, and he vowed that would be his theme song for the next four years.

Sarno won reelection to a sixth term Tuesday night, capturing slightly more than 57% of the vote, while his opponent, City Councilor Justin Hurst, received 42%. The unofficial vote tally was 12,077 for Sarno to 8,945 for Hurst.

When Sarno entered after the victory was announced, volunteers cheered while Sinatra’s “The Best is Yet to Come” played in the background. He vowed that would be true with more new schools built, more improvements to parks, more businesses coming in and more homes to ease the housing crisis.

“I’m humbled and honored. I live this job 24-7, and I’m very happy to move forward,” he said. “There is plenty more I’m looking to do for the city of Springfield.”

Public safety will continue to be his top priority, and Sarno said he will push for a new courthouse, which he said he would like to see along the city’s riverfront.

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Hurst: Message sent

Despite the loss, Hurst said he wasn’t disappointed, saying he brought more people out to vote and sent the mayor a message.

“He knows we are coming. The entire establishment knows we are coming. The entire region knows we are coming,” Hurst said. “We are going to come every single day. We will not sleep.”

Nearly 19% of the city’s voters cast ballots in this year’s election, which also included a hard-fought 10-person at-large City Council race, where incumbents Kateri Walsh, Sean Curran, Tracye Whitfield, and newcomers Jose Delgado and Brian Santaniello won seats.

“The establishment doesn’t get broken all at once; it gets broken down one stone at a time,” Hurst said. “It takes work just do the first stone, and the next 12,000 stones are coming, I promise you.”

Hurst thanked his team of about 300 dedicated volunteers. While he was not specific on what he will do once his City Council term ends in January, he pledged that he and his team will not be quiet.

When numbers started trickling in the early stages of the race, it was a nail-biter. With about 30% of the vote total in, less than 150 votes separated the two candidates, but later Sarno started to pull away.

“I have to thank my hundreds of great grassroots volunteers. I thank the voters of Springfield,” Sarno said. “I thank my family. … They have been with me through the trials and tribulations and the triumphs.”

While celebrating at The Cedars on Island Pond Road, Hurst did not mention the allegations that he and his workers were involved in a scheme to pay people $10 to register and vote for him on Oct. 28, which was also the last day to register. Hurst vehemently denied the allegations and said they were a “smear campaign” generated by a long-term mayor who was losing ground in the election.

Hurst did campaign outside the polls on Tuesday, wearing a bright red sweatshirt with the message: “They think we can be bought for $10 and a fish sandwich.”

Voters speak

When interviewed at the polls, voters talked little about the allegations. While some said they were happy with the work Sarno has done for the past 16 years, others said it is time for a change.

“We need change. Bottom line is we need change,” said Lucille Holmes, while voting for Hurst at Rebecca Johnson School.

She said she feels like the city is “falling apart,” and Hurst could do better leading Springfield.

“I’m glad we have two good candidates to choose from,” said Mara Talbot, who was voting at Frederick Harris Elementary School on Tuesday.

When casting her ballot, Talbot said she weighed a number of issues, such as racial inequity in the city and the debate over keeping the same mayor versus making a change. Ultimately, she voted for Sarno.

“I feel like Mayor Sarno had done a lot for the city,” she said. “He has a lot of experience and years under his belt.”

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