Holyoke City Council candidate: Kevin A. Jourdain
By The Republican Newsroom
October 26, 2009, 5:13PM
Elective office sought: Holyoke City Councilor-at-Large
Age: 37
Web site: holyokefirst.blogspot.com
Occupation and employer: Senior financial analyst, Sisters of Providence Health System
Education: Bachelor’s degree, political science and economics, UMass-Amherst, 1993; master’s degree, business administration Anna Maria College, 1999; juris doctor candidate, Massachusetts School of Law, 2010
Elective offices held: City Councilor-at Large, 1993-Present
Memberships: Knights of Columbus Council 90 and 4th Degree; Holy Cross Parish; Friends of the Holyoke Council on Aging and Senior Center
List any relatives now employed by state, federal or local government: None
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why are you running for office?
Because Holyoke voters need a fiscal watchdog in their city government who will make sure that our government is transparent and accountable to the voters while also making sure our budget is balanced with correct priorities without raising taxes. As the senior most member of the Finance Committee, I hold an MBA and work as a senior financial analyst in private sector, I understand how municipal finance works. As a lifelong Holyoker, husband and father with a family, I owe my beloved city, my time and energy to make sure it reaches its greatest potential for the benefit of our next generation.
What are your qualifications for the post?
City Councilor At Large 16 years, senior member of the Finance Committee, Chairman of Cable TV Committee,Vice Chairman of Public Service Committee, former trustee of Holyoke Community College, former supervisor on Board of Supervisors of T.J. O’Connor Animal Control Center
What are the key issues facing your community?
Economic development; private sector job creation; keeping a balanced city budget; preventing tax and sewer rate increases, and ensuring top quality city services such as police and fire protection. I also strongly support building a new senior center in Holyoke and I am leading the effort on the City Council to make it a reality. I have also been a leader for millions of dollars worth of new infrastructure improvements in our city; including, scores of new roads and sidewalks and I will continue to lead this effort.
Explain why you will or will not vote for the question on the ballot asking whether a charter commission should be established to study if changes should be made in city’s form of government.
I have no objection with having a charter commission provided it is not composed of individuals with a preset agenda. Certain valid things could stand fixing although there are other ways to do it without spending a lot of time and money on a charter commission. In the last 100 years, the Charter has been amended by the mayor and City Council dozens of times to accommodate the changing needs of the city. There has never been one change from a charter commission even when the city did one in 1973. A Charter Commission could be very good and could address a number of issues potentially. However, my chief concern is I oppose the current mayor’s foolish idea to create a charter commission to eliminate the office of mayor on his way out the door and return Holyoke to effectively a town form of government with an unelected city manager. This is absolutely ridiculous and makes one wonder why it took him 10 years to come to the conclusion his job was not needed. I strongly support a leadership of the city that is elected and directly accountable to the people of Holyoke and not to bring in some hired gun to tell us all what to do. Every mayor prior to the current one believed in our strong mayoral form of government. Voters should beware and ask lots of tough questions.
Gov. Deval L. Patrick’s top fiscal adviser is warning of a “perfect storm” of budget problems, raising the possibility of another round of emergency cuts to cities and towns. Should schools or police be immune from potential cuts or should all departments share the burden?
Holyoke must not lay off any teachers, police or fire personnel period. Our kids’ education and the community’s public safety are fundamental obligations that must never be compromised. I am proud to say that under my leadership on City Council, I have supported the creation of a $10 million stabilization fund plus a healthy free cash reserve of $5.8 million to weather these painful cuts without raising your taxes. Holyoke will be OK because we have been prepared. Holyoke’s budget has some areas of bloat that could be trimmed in order to give back some funds in order to avoid layoffs to core personnel. As your fiscal watchdog, I voted against this last budget because it was not lean enough. I have the fin’ancial skills and experience necessary to make sure our budget remains balanced no matter what the state throws at us. I will also be a voice to tell Boston: no more unfunded mandates.
“Revitalizing downtown” and “bringing in new business to boost the economy” are cliches heard around election time. Why should voters believe you are the one that can make that happen, and please be specific. Why should voters believe you are the one that can make that happen and please be specific.
I agree talk is cheap. Voters must look at all the candidates’ records. I have a strong track record of being supportive of economic development in the city. I have supported the development of the city’s infrastructure and dam acquisition so that we could take advantage of large new projects coming to Holyoke such as the new $100 million data center to the downtown. I have been a good ambassador for the city and it was one of the reasons the Business West newspaper last year chose me one of the Top 40 Young Professionals under 40 in Western Massachusetts. Under my watch, I have supported millions in grants and projects that help business. I have supported hundreds of special permits, zone changes, land transfers, land acquisitions, redevelopment plans, tax incremental financing agreements during my years of service on the council. I will put my record up against anyone on the issue of support for business. Holyoke needs to remain business friendly and we can also do it in a way the respects and protects neighborhoods. As your councilor, I have always struck the right balance.
Re-Elect Holyoke's Fiscal Watchdog!
