We are happy to announce that our campaign has been endorsed by the Springfield Republican Newspaper and the Daily Hampshire Gazette!

Tautznik serves Easthampton well

By The Republican Editorials

October 30, 2009, 5:02AM

Easthampton voters should re-elect Michael A. Tautznik to another term as mayor.

Tautznik, 56, the city’s first and only mayor, has served the community ably during his 12 years on the job and has earned a seventh term.

Not one of Tautznik’s three opponents – City Councilor James P. Kwiecinski, Margaret M. Prendergast and Albert J. DiCarlo – has shown us why he should get the boot.

A major issue during the campaign has been the safety of the city’s water supply. Kwiecinski, 56, Prendergast, 48, and DiCarlo, 62, have criticized Tautznik over his handling of Northampton’s proposal to expand its landfill to an area that could affect Easthampton’s water.

That’s an easy issue to criticize – until you consider the alternatives.

Although Tautznik is not a proponent of the expansion, he has said there needs to be a far-reaching discussion about solid waste disposal options.

He also said there is little chance the city’s water will be contaminated, and reminded opponents that the city uses Northampton’s landfill, which would close in 2011 without an expansion.

DiCarlo, a retired Massachusetts State Police sergeant, says Easthampton is not doing enough to build the city’s business and tax base. We see little evidence of that. Easthampton, with its revitalized downtown, has prospered during Tautznik’s tenure, and, compared to other communities, has attractive tax rates.

Although we back Tautznik, we are pleased that his opponents have mounted vigorous campaigns. It’s been 10 years since he’s had a challenger, and we’re happy the candidates were out knocking on doors and raising issues.

But Easthampton has been sailing a steady course under Tautznik’s leadership, and we urge voters to keep him at the helm.

In Our Opinion: Tautznik for mayor

What is needed in a city mayor in these times is a leader who can manage a budget amid financial challenges yet be creative and flexible enough not to cast away new ideas simply because times are tough.

In Easthampton, we believe the best person for the job is the incumbent, Michael A. Tautznik.

Tautznik was elected the city's first mayor in 1996 after Easthampton converted from a selectmen and Town Meeting form of government to a mayoral/council government. That was after he served for years in a variety of roles in this town-turned-city.

His record and breadth of experience in the different facets of Easthampton government - and his ability to get things done - make him the best choice for re-election.

Tautznik is running against three candidates who have roots in and care deeply about Easthampton: Albert J. DiCarlo, a member of the Conservation Commission; Margaret Prendergast, co-president of Friends of Emily Williston Library, former School Committee member and PTO activist; and three-term City Councilor James P. Kwiecinski.

These candidates deserve credit for their civic-mindedness and the public spirit they show in seeking elected office. However, in interviews, forums and debates over the past two months, none of the challengers has presented a strong case for change or specific plans for how they would lead the city more effectively than Tautznik has.

During Tautznik's tenure, Easthampton haschanged for the better in many ways: new municipal offices, a new public safety complex, a new senior center, a new water treatment plant and the long-awaited dredging of Nashawannuck Pond - all are visible, tangible symbols of a vibrant city.

In other arenas, Easthampton has a notable arts community and there is much excitement over the renovation of the former Town Hall on Main Street, home to many arts organizations. The Manhan Rail Trail was built and a new bandstand concert venue created off Ferry Street.

That's a lot to achieve in 13 years, all while keeping the city on a sound financial footing. Every year Tautznik managed to build up the city's rainy-day accounts, which, even during a difficult budget year, stands at $863,818.

There have been challenges for the mayor. Tautznik has had rocky relations with some city employee unions, though that could be said of many city mayors, especially in a sour economy. Last year, when the state made mid-year cuts to state aid, Tautznik took decisive action, making several layoffs, implementing a hiring freeze and reducing payroll costs by closing city offices on Fridays.

Tautznik believes those actions will leave the city in good stead this year, when the state is expected to make a round of mid-year cuts to local aid.

In our view, none of the challengers has laid out strong reasons why he or she would be a better chief executive for Easthampton as the city heads into a new decade.

Change for the sake of change is not a reason to reject an experienced mayor serving his city with vigor and dedication.

Tautznik has the energy, experience and know-how not only to lead the city through trying times, but to make it a better place. Tautznik deserves the job because he earned it.

Coming Friday: Our endorsement for mayor of Northampton.

The Following is an excerpt from the article “Easthampton election” that appeared on Saturday, October 10, 2009 in the Daily Hampshire Gazette. 

Tautznik tenure

In his campaigning, Tautznik touts his experience. He notes that he is "an experienced executive" who wishes to continue to run the nearly $35 million per year business that is Easthampton.

It is a business that he says he has run responsibly and with the interests of the taxpayer in mind.

"I'm a taxpayer's mayor," Tautznik said.

Though Tautznik believes himself to be the most qualified candidate, he is taking the challenge to his office seriously. He has held several fundraisers since September as well as sent out mailings to residents seeking donations and support.

He has recruited a union organizer and Democratic Party activist to manage his campaign.

Ray Drewnowski is an Easthampton resident and political director for the Pioneer Valley Young Democrats. He works for the Service Employees International Union, which represents healthcare workers.

Drewnowski, who said he is working for Tautznik free of charge, said he thinks Tautznik "embodies Democratic ideals."

"He does what's good for the whole community," he said.

Tautznik flexed his Democratic credentials Friday night with a fundraiser at the Apollo Grill featuring Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray, who toured the Easthampton Bear Fest with Tautznik in the afternoon.

Tautznik campaigned for Murray and Gov. Deval Patrick in the 2006 gubernatorial election and worked with Murray on an urban rivers project with Murray when he was the mayor of Worcester.

During the tour Friday, Murray called Tautznik "one of the most talented and committed mayors in the Commonwealth."

Being allied with state-level politicians who have a say over spending priorities and grant programs has benefitted the city, Tautznik said.

Projects like the dredging of Nashawannuck Pond and the revitalization of Millside Park moved forward thanks to contact with legislators and the governor's office, Tautznik said.

"I get to know people who are movers and shakers," he said. "There's a value there."

Drewnowski said his candidate's strategy in seeking reelection is to remind voters that he feels he has changed the city for the better.

Tautznik reminisced during a recent forum about the Easthampton of 1996, the year he became Easthampton's first ever mayor.

"It was pretty downtrodden," Tautznik said. "It was a rough and tumble, blue-collar town."

Many of the city's key department heads from that time are still here. But Tautznik says he has shaped a city government nearly from scratch, keeping it barebones and cost efficient.

"There's no excess here," he said.

Under Tautznik, the city moved its offices to the Payson Avenue municipal building, constructed the public safety complex next door, built the water treatment plant on Hendrick Street, created a permanent senior center in the former post office when it closed and constructed the Manhan Rail Trail. Tautznik sold the Memorial Building and leased the old Town Hall on Main Street to an arts nonprofit that is slowly filling it with arts tenants like the Flywheel Arts Cooperative.

His staff aggressively pursues grants that have rebuilt parks and Pleasant Street and have provided technical assistance to small business owners and artists. "You can see the new city I've helped create," Tautznik said.

Drewnowski said that those accomplishments are the cornerstones of the Tautznik campaign.

"He's led this community through a lot of changes and has not only sustained it, but improved it," Drewnowski said.

By MATT PILON
Staff Writer

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Deep Energy Retrofit Project - September 2009

Sean Jeffords
Beyond Green Construction
189 Pleasant Street
Easthampton, MA

Mayor Mike tours the renovation/retrofit project site to learn about the construction
 techniques and to discuss the financing required for carbon neutral construction.

Keeping up appearances with friends greeting voters on their way to work.

An exceptional morning of smiles, warm wishes (if not temperatures)
and fun for everyone!




         

                                                                     
  

We spent the whole day moving our reluctant resident fish population out of Nashawannuck Pond as we drained it to make way for the long-awaited dredging project, paid for with a grant that Mike got for us because he knows the right folks in Washington, D.C.


Using nets for the little ones at Wilton Brook while Paul Nowak and the pros heard the big guys down the sluice gate to Lower Mill Pond.