NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Jennifer Macksey said there will be "no on the job training needed" if she's elected mayor in November. 

 

The former director of finance for the city touted her familiarity with City Hall and ticked off a long list of priorities she'd tackle as mayor, punctuating several points with a bang of her fist on the lectern at her campaign kickoff on Wednesday. 

 

With a "Macksey for Mayor" sign behind her and large crowd gathered in the courtyard at Norad Mill, the candidate pledged to address drug use and crime, to take on Spectrum, and immediately begin work toward a new public safety building.  

 

"The current building that now houses those so important public safety officers is unacceptable, embarrassing and no longer can be tolerated," she said to a round of applause. 

 

"In the first 100 days, I will present a long-term and short-term capital outlay plan to the City Council to address the decaying infrastructure crisis that the city faces," Macksey continued. "This plan will include replacements of streets, sidewalks, and the underground aging infrastructure."

 

She said the city has become more unaffordable, pointing to the increase in property taxes and a sewer fee imposed more than a decade ago, adding that "this needs to be corrected, and there needs to be more transparency on where these dollars are going."

 

Macksey is currently assistant superintendent of operations and finance for the Northern Berkshire School Union and was vice president finance and administration at the now defunct Southern Vermont College. She spent more than a decade working in various finance functions at City Hall, including treasurer/tax collector, and director of student accounts and bursar at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. 

 

Those years in municipal and educational institutions had given her experience in budgeting, capital planning, grant writing and management, and human resources, she said, and, during her time at City Hall, "I learned that an effective mayor, must have the ability to be a good listener to listen to all people from all walks of life."

 

The event had been shifted because of COVID-19 concerns from the smaller 413 Bistro to outside at Norad Mill, owned by supporter David Moresi. It was attended a number of Macksey's former colleagues at the city, including former City Clerk Marilyn Gomeau, former Police Chief Michael Cozzaglio and former Fire Chief Stephen Meranti, and her current colleague, NBSU Superintendent John Franzoni. Also in attendance were City Councilors Marie T. Harpin, Lisa Blackmer, Peter Oleskiewiecz, Bryan Sapienza and Wayne Wilkinson, and former School Committee member Mark Moulton.

 

Macksey was introduced by her former boss, Gerald Desmarais. The retired MCLA treasurer described her as "dynamic, thoughtful and creative" and a hard worker able to make difficult decision "where there are no easy answers."

 

"In a nutshell, Jennifer has the roots, the experience, the intellect, and the demeanor to be our next mayor," he said.  

 

Macksey is hoping to be the first woman mayor but she's up against three other women candidates: Lynette Ritland Bond, Rachel Branch and Aprilyn Carsno. There will be a preliminary election to narrow the field to two on Sept. 21.

 

Her supporters on Wednesday frequently applauded highlights of her speech, such as working with neighboring communities to investigate creating their own broadband network, finding a use for the mothballed Mohawk Theater, ensuring Greylock and Sullivan schools are not abandoned, eliminating blight and strengthening neighborhoods, making playgrounds safe and needle free, and restoring flowers to the Main Street median.

 

"We will strategically use the portion of the [federal ARPA] stimulus money that's coming our way, as well as the private investors to restore downtown, so it will shine like a polished gem," Macksey said. 

 

She said the decision to run had not been easy, and that she hadn't been pushed or influenced. But, she said, her 90-year-old mother told her she'd waited long enough to see her as mayor, "and anyone who really knows me knows that I will not disappoint my mother."

 

Macksey said she was ready to give back to her community and asked for support in her campaign. 

 

"We have many challenges ahead, but with challenges, bring us opportunity. I have faced many challenges in every position I tell, and always turn them into opportunities," she said. "North Adams needs a forward leader, a forward thinking leader, one who will put in the time to make action plans that will sustain the future of this community and get things done."