Letter: Macksey Understands How to Manage City

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To the Editor:

As a former administrative officer for the city of North Adams (2001-2008), I write to urge the citizens of North Adams to elect Jennifer Macksey their next mayor. I can attest to Jen's sharp intellect, skilled financial management and good nature during the years we worked together when she was the city's top financial officer. Jen worked tirelessly on behalf of the residents of North Adams and has prepared herself, with her strong municipal background and experience in education administration, to be exceptionally qualified to do this remarkably difficult work.

There is no more difficult or important job than that of a mayor; I say this with confidence based on my own diverse and challenging work experience in both the private and public sectors. Jen Macksey has experienced firsthand the inherent difficulties in managing a city to meet the needs of its citizens while continually struggling to obtain and effectively use limited financial and other resources. She knows how to do this job and do it well.

It's been concerning to observe the current city government difficulties resulting in multiple resignations from incumbent city councilors. Now is not the time for on-the-job learning or training. Experience matters. Jen Macksey knows how to effectively position and utilize key resources on day one, which will be critical to the future success of North Adams. For these reasons, I urge the residents of North Adams to cast their vote for Jen Macksey on Nov. 2.
 

Mary Katherine Eade
North Adams, Mass. 

Mary Katherine Eade is a former administrative office for the city of North Adams.

 

 


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North Adams Residents Urged to Return Census

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — City residents are being warned of the consequences of not completing the census — their voting status will be deemed inactive. 
 
"We currently have just about 5,000 returns, and we really need to get people to return their census," said City Clerk Tina Leonesio at Tuesday's City Council meeting. "We have over 10,000 voters in the system."
 
She reminded audience members that the state mandates that they return their census forms. 
 
Massachusetts is the only state that conducts an annual street listing to determine who and how many people are living in each community. It requires boards of registrars in municipalities of 5,000 or more people to create lists of all persons age 17 and older by street or alphabetically.
 
These lists are used for updating voter rolls, calling up juries, confirming numbers for services such as veterans benefits and schools, and proof of residency for colleges and universities.  
 
This year, anyone who hasn't returned their form by June 1, will be placed on the inactive voter list. 
 
"Which means, come voting time, they're going to have to come up to the table, they're going to have to fill out forms, show that they're still living in the where they were living, and then go vote," said Leonesio. "It's going to be so much easier if people just turn in their census."
 
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