North Adams Gets More City Council Candidates

02:21PM / Friday, April 28, 2023Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There is some potential for new faces on the City Council and School Committee this year, though it's too early in the election season to make any predictions.

So far, four of the nine incumbent city councilors have taken out papers for re-election: Keith Bona, Peter Oleskiewicz, Bryan Sapienza and Ashley Shade. They've been joined by five challengers: Colin Bain, Robert Cardimino, Emily Johnson, Deanna Morrow and Ronald Sheldon.

Both Cardimino and Sheldon have run unsuccessfully in the past; the other three are newcomers. Cardimino is the first candidate to return nomination papers, handing them in on April 26.

Sapienza and Shade were the first incumbents to pull papers. A few other councilors have said they were waiting to make a decision but Bona pulled papers this week after being slapped with his first Open Meeting Law violation, saying he did not want to end his tenure on a bad note. Bona will be running for an eighth consecutive term although he also served a couple terms in the 1990s.

Oleskiewicz will be seeking his second full term after being appointed to complete an unexpired term in 2020.

Tara Jacobs is the only School Committee incumbent to pull papers so far. She is seeking a third term. Newcomers Cody Chamberlain and Eric Wilson have also pulled papers for the three four-year seats up for election.

All three incumbents on the McCann School Committee have taken out papers for re-election: Peter Breen, George Canales and William Diamond. Diamond returned his papers on April 27.

Jennifer Macksey is running for a second term as mayor and, to date, has no challenger.

Nominees must submit the signatures of 50 registered voters for any of the offices up for election. Papers must be received by the Registrars of Voters by 5 p.m. on Aug. 1; the last day to withdraw is Aug. 17.

A preliminary election will be held if there number of candidates is double the seats open plus one. For example, at least three candidates or 19 for City Council.

A preliminary election, if necessary, will be held on Sept. 19; the general election is Nov. 7, both from 9 to 7 at St. Anthony's Parish Hall. The last day to register to vote is Sept. 9 and Oct. 28, respectively.

These dates are correct and an update from a previous schedule issued by the city clerk's office.

Tags: election 2023, municipal election,

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Letter: Virginia Riehl Would Bring a Thoughtful Voice to City Council

Letter to the Editor05:00PM / Monday, November 02, 2026

To the Wditor:

As the North Adams City Council considers who will fill the vacancy left by Alexa MacDonald's departure, I'd like to express my support for Virginia Riehl.

North Adams is a community I care deeply about, and I try to contribute where I can. For the past three years, I've volunteered at the North Adams Farmers Market through various farms. I also volunteer my photography to support local charities and causes, and make an effort to stay engaged with the issues facing our city.

It's through this involvement that I've come to know Virginia. I frequently see her at farmers markets, community events, and gatherings focused on issues like affordable housing. I've come to appreciate not only her commitment to North Adams, but the thoughtful and collaborative way she approaches the challenges facing our community.

Recently, I attended a NACHO meeting that Virginia organized, and I was struck by her approach to the conversation. Rather than focusing on sweeping changes or searching for a single solution, Virginia emphasized listening, encouraging thoughtful discussion, and making space for ideas of all sizes. She seemed to recognize that even small, modest efforts can grow into something meaningful.

The conversation also touched on NACHO's (North Adams Community Housing Organization) future direction and how it could best serve the community. I appreciated Virginia's willingness to examine the organization's priorities rather than assume the existing approach was necessarily the best. To me, that reflected an important quality in civic leadership: a commitment to the purpose of the work, rather than to any particular structure or way of doing things.

Larger economic, social, and political forces shape the trajectory of a city like North Adams, and many are beyond our immediate control. But there's tremendous value in creating opportunities for people to connect, share ideas, and help one another. Sometimes meaningful change begins not with a grand proposal or formal policy initiative, but with a conversation that encourages someone to act on an idea.

Much of what makes a community strong happens through small, often unremarkable acts of participation. I believe Virginia understands that creating spaces for people to exchange ideas and encouraging others to get involved are themselves important forms of civic leadership.

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