Letter: Jennifer Macksey for Mayor

To the Editor:

Jennifer Macksey is quite simply the best mayoral candidate for North Adams. As any of Jen's coworkers, current or former, will tell you, Jen is a strong independent woman who has been successful in every position she has held. I have personally seen her incredibly strong work ethic and she puts her whole heart into everything she does — just imagine what she will do for the city she loves.

What an incredible benefit to have our new mayor walk into City Hall with the knowledge of how city government works. She will brainstorm with all the city departments to figure out what needs to be prioritized and get to work on it. There will be no long learning curve.

I find it disturbing that the only reason I hear to not vote for Jen is that she will be our former mayor's "mouthpiece." For those of you who have made that statement, you obviously don't know Jen.

Rebecca Cellana
North Adams, Mass.

North Adams Schools Say Goodbye to Alcombright, Await His Replace

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
05:49AM / Wednesday, January 07, 2026

Richard Alcmbright, former mayor, encouraged citizens to get involved rather than sitting on the sidelines criticizing.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The School Committee bid adieu to Richard Alcombright for a second time on Tuesday. 

 

The former mayor was presented with a clock in 2017 upon the completion of his fourth term as chair of the committee; on Tuesday, he received another clock marking his four years as a member of the committee. 

 

"I have 49 years of aggregate elected services," said Alcombright. "My point is this, that I would not have done it if I didn't love it. The rewards of public service far outweigh any resulting things that might come with any positions."

 

He said he chose not run because it was time for new voices and ideas,  and for others who call the city home to step up. He was disappointed by the last election cycle because of its anger and vitriol, and critics hiding behind keyboards. 

 

"Many uninformed or ill-informed people sitting on the sidelines criticizing those who try so hard to move our community forward, trying to make those who do the work, all of you, feel less than," Alcombright said. 

 

"There is nothing more harmful than when we make someone feel less than ...we need to set a higher standard, our own well-intended standard for political interaction."

 

His civic service is lengthy — McCann School Committee member; as chair or member of social service, health care and substance abuse committees — as well as his terms as mayor, city councilor and School Committee member. He's served through five different superintendents and with numerous