Letter: Support Tara Jacobs for Governor's Council

Letter to the Editor05:00PM / Tuesday, November 01, 2022Print Story | Email Story

To the Editor:

I watched the recent District 8 Governor's Council debate held by NEPM and other Western Massachusetts media outlets. The dialogue between Democrat Tara Jacobs and her Republican opponent laid out stark contrasts, and a difference in vision beyond simple party affiliation. To summarize:

Tara: Find the best people for our judiciary and encourage them to apply for positions.

Opponent: Just vote on who is presented. The Governor's Council is not an employment agency.

Tara: Work with the executive, legislative, and judiciary to advocate for equity, justice, and other important issues in our district.

Opponent: Why reinvent the wheel? It's been around for 4 billion years.

Tara: Work with community leaders, judicial advocacy groups, and the legal community to get a full picture of a nominee's history, impact on the community, and fitness for a specific position.

Opponent: Forego the opinion of informed and knowledgeable people and just use "common sense" because "experts" have caused inflation.

Tara: Use bail, pardons, and commutations as tools to serve justice and help worthy people succeed.

Opponent: If you are convicted, or even accused, of a crime, you shouldn't have put yourself in that position to begin with.

Tara: Running for Governor's Council as a next step to advocate for justice and equity after more than 15 years serving her community.

Opponent: Running for Governor's Council because of a misguided grievance against a a judge he thinks violated their oath of office, even though he can't articulate exactly how, or even what that oath is (hint: check the state constitution, Chapter 6, Article 1). Perhaps using only "common sense" instead of actual informed opinion, doesn't always lead one to make the best decisions.

The choice here is clear. Tara has ability, intentions, and integrity to work with both government and community stakeholders to help make Western Massachusetts a better, safer, and more just place to live, work, and visit. The honorable sheriffs of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties all agree that Tara is the better choice and have endorsed her candidacy, and I do as well.

So I encourage you to vote on Nov. 8 for Tara Jacobs under the heading of "Councillor, Eighth District."

Thomas Bernard
North Adams, Mass.

Bernard is a former mayor of the city of North Adams.

Tags: election 2022, endorsement,

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North Adams Housing Authority Hires MassNAHRO to Lead Executive Director Search

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
02:22PM / Saturday, October 31, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Housing Authority (NAHA) board of commissioners voted to utilize MassNAHRO's Executive Director Search Services for its own director search.

Before the unanimous vote Thursday to retain MassNAHRO (Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials) services, Chairwoman Leigh Uqdah noted that NAHA is already an affiliate of the organization.

"They have been doing executive director recruitment searches for public housing authorities that they represent," she said. "They follow all of the Massachusetts laws, they advertise, they screen, they involve the tenants in their process. I think it is in our best interest to secure their services."

Longtime director Jennifer Hohn resigned earlier in October, following rising tension between her and the NAHA Tenants Association, culminating in the scheduling of a formal grievance hearing between both parties.

The commissioners promoted Director of Operations Lisa Labonte to interim director.

The service will cost $5,500, and MassNAHRO will work directly with the commission to set up a screening committee.

Lillian Zavatsky, city councilor and liaison to NAHA, spoke during the open forum and encouraged the board to avoid a permanent internal promotion. This was in reference to a letter she sent to the commissioners several weeks ago.

"I think that it is really important that the search is open and transparent, and there is a direct role for tenant participation," she said. "Not just after a decision is made, but throughout the process ... I also said I do not support an internal candidate. I do not support the director of operations being promoted to the director. There are older issues here, and she has been part of it. I think a lot needs to change here."

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