Michael Bardsley for Mayor

Michael Bardsley for Mayor - Please Vote on November 3

Michael Bardsley — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:50:00 GMT

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3

Vote Michael Bardsley Mayor of Northampton!

Please read Michael Bardsley’s campaign summary statement on Northampton Media

See Bardsley’s biography, principles and positions - click here

Northampton citizens from across the city support Bardsley - click here

Michael Bardsley on Economic Development and Jobs

Michael Bardsley — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:03:00 GMT

You may also download this paper as a PDF (226KB).

Laborers' International Union Local 596 Endorses Bardsley

Michael Bardsley — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:39:00 GMT

Local 596 of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) has endorsed Michael Bardsley for Mayor of Northampton. Local 596 represents workers in our area, and has its headquarters in Holyoke. LIUNA has a half-million members in the US and Canada.

LIUNA is “the most progressive, aggressive and fastest-growing union of construction workers, and one of the most diverse and effective unions representing public service employees,” according to the union’s website. Click for more information about LIUNA.

Earlier this month, Bardsley was endorsed by the United Auto Workers’ CAP Council for Massachusetts. The UAW represents workers in other economic sectors besides the auto industry.

Valley Advocate's Tom Vannah: "Why it's time for new leadership in Northampton"

Michael Bardsley — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:02:00 GMT

Tom Vannah, editor of the Valley Advocate, declares for Michael Bardsley in this week's issue. Read these excerpts, and see the full article.

...I believe Northampton needs a change in leadership. I also believe Northampton is fortunate to have a candidate in this race who represents the right kind of change.

Michael Bardsley is not just "Anybody But Clare," to borrow a line from one of his opponent's campaign ads. He is a 16-year incumbent city councilor, a well-known progressive leader and community and labor organizer who has for many years shared many of Mayor Higgins' views. While he has been the mayor's ally in many fights, Bardsley has demonstrated that his first allegiance is to the people who've elected him. In recent years, he has been responsive to individuals and groups who feel ignored or marginalized by the current mayor and a majority of the City Council, using his office to keep dissenting opinion and criticism from being summarily dismissed.

While he has been criticized for not providing clearly defined alternatives to Mayor Higgins' proposed policies, Bardsley has shown good sense and wise restraint in not opposing the mayor to establish a contrast purely for political purposes. Rather than being a grandstander, Bardsley is a careful and thoughtful person who approaches each issue on its own merits, guided by a commitment to democratic process—to open and accountable government, intellectual honesty, basic fairness and respect for other points of view. In his campaign, he has not offered a vision of a radically different set of initiatives than the current mayor's, but a vision for a different kind of leadership based on openness and inclusion.

...Rather than stick grimly with a mayor who, despite her many accomplishments, appears increasingly unbending in the face of public criticism, I believe Northampton should turn to someone who isn't afraid to listen or to reach out broadly for new ideas, tapping into the city's great wealth of talent and passion.

Michael Bardsley on Environmental and Conservation Issues

Michael Bardsley — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:39:00 GMT

Our city government must take a more active, creative role in preserving our environment and in conserving our natural resources—to maintain Northampton’s quality of life for the next generations.

Achieving a sustainable city requires an engaged city. Positive environmental change mainly comes about through many small actions made by a large number of people on a consistent basis over a period of time.

Of course, while every citizen can play a part, some actions necessarily must be taken by businesses, institutions, and government. Yet in order to achieve them, community involvement and support are necessary. As Mayor, I will work to encourage increased community involvement in environmental protection and conservation issues. And I will strengthen city government’s efforts to achieve sustainability.

I will especially focus on the following priorities:

Improvement of the city’s recycling rate
Development of long-term plans to address the issue of solid waste reduction and management
The strengthening of wetlands preservation regulations
Reduction of energy consumption and costs both of city government as well as of energy consumers in the city

In taking action in these areas, I will draw on the advice of local experts as well as our citizens—and from the experience of other communities that are tackling these issues.

For an in-depth look at these issues, strategies to address them, and specific steps I will take as Mayor, please see my new Report on Environmental Issues (PDF, 66KB). It also contains important questions that I believe must be answered regarding any future plans for the Northampton Landfill.

Bardsley vs. Higgins: The abc40 Mayoral Debate

Michael Bardsley — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:34:00 GMT

There have been over a dozen debates and forums during this busy campaign season. Here is one of the more lively ones, a 27-minute debate between Michael Bardsley and Clare Higgins televised on abc40. This debate took place on October 15. Please enjoy.

Northampton Citizens Across the City Endorse Michael Bardsley for Mayor

Michael Bardsley — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:45:00 GMT

Please view the endorsements linked below for a sense of the extensive experience, leadership skills, commitment, and compassion that have earned Michael Bardsley enthusiastic support as a candidate for Mayor.

Whether long-time residents or relative newcomers, from West Farms to Ward 3, Bardsley supporters know he will listen to and work with all in Northampton to meet the challenges our city faces and move us forward as a more welcoming, democratic, sustainable, affordable, equitable and united community.

Mary Ford, Former Mayor and City Councilor of Northampton; Administrator of Non-profit organizations in Northampton and surrounding towns

Michael Ford, Retired Dean, Hampshire College and Professor of Social Sciences and Education, Brown University, UMass, Amherst, and Hampshire College

Marianne LaBarge, Northampton City Councilor Ward 6; Committee Member of Social Services, Veterans' Affairs, Appointments and Evaluations, and Disabilities

Frances Crowe, Nationally respected local Peace and Social Justice Activist; Long-time member, American Friends Service Committee

Claudia Lefko, Director, Iraqi Children's Art Exchange; Pre-School Teacher; Advocate for Children's Education

Rose Bookbinder, Labor Organizer, Board Member/Recording Secretary, UAW; Board Member, Rosenberg Fund for Children; Graduate Student, UMass Labor School

Jordi Herold, Founder, Iron Horse Music Hall; Arts Promoter; Real Estate Developer/Historic Preservationist

Ira McKinley, Arts Promotor/Producer; Advocate for Homeless in Northampton; Organizer/Activist, Poverty is Not a Crime

Lisa Leary, Art Teacher, Northampton Public Schools; Artist

Adam Cohen, Community Activist and Blogger, North Street

Shawn Robinson, President, Pioneer Valley Young Democrats

Northampton Progressives and the Massachusetts UAW Endorse Bardsley

Michael Bardsley — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:36:00 GMT

Preliminary Election: Bardsley Tops Higgins

Michael Bardsley — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:10:00 GMT

Please enjoy these brief clips from media interviews at City Hall on election night, followed by a scene of celebration with campaign volunteers and supporters at Northampton Brewery:

Vote Michael Bardsley for Mayor

Michael Bardsley — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Preliminary Election Tuesday, September 15; Our Radio Spots

Michael Bardsley — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:15:00 GMT

Here are our new 30-second radio spots to air next week. Click to play the MP3 files!

Radio Spot 1: Michael Bardsley

Radio Spot 2: Marianne LaBarge, Ward 6 City Councilor

Radio Spot 3: Michael Ford, Bardsley Campaign Chair

Michael Bardsley: Principles and Positions

Michael Bardsley — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:05:00 GMT

A Northampton resident for nearly 40 years, Michael Bardsley has worked for three decades as a high school guidance counselor. And during those years he has been actively involved in a wide range of issues affecting our city. Michael has been on many citizens’ committees over the years. He has come to understand the issues that we in Northampton face. He knows how the political process works from the grassroots up--and how government operates at the city, state, and federal levels. A native New Englander from a working-class background, he has experienced first-hand the daily issues and struggles that many of us face. Michael Bardsley has served:

On the Northampton City Council, representing Ward 4 for three terms
On the City Council as an At-Large Member, representing the entire city for five terms, and as City Council President for eight years
On the Best Practices Committee
As Chair of Northampton’s City Democratic Committee from 1993-1994
On the Massachusetts Teachers Association statewide Board for six years

For more on Michael Bardsley's principles and positions, please download our latest campaign brochure (PDF, 42KB).

Bardsley Campaign Committee Volunteer Form

Michael Bardsley — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 12:05:00 GMT

Prefer to mail in your form? Download the form here (PDF, 12KB) and mail it to us today.

Valley Advocate: "Northampton: Spector vs. Bardsley"

Michael Bardsley — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 01:17:00 GMT

Valley Advocate, May 21, 2009:

Two hours into the May 7 Northampton city council meeting—a meeting at which the council voted to put a $2 million Proposition 2 1/2 tax override on the ballot this June—Councilor At-Large Michael Bardsley took the floor to voice his disagreement with the way in which Mayor Clare Higgins and other tax override supporters have framed the issue for the public.

Bardsley, who is challenging Higgins for mayor in the November election, made four points at the council meeting. First, he reminded the council that the financial crisis that the city is facing was a growing problem long before the collapse of several Wall Street banks last fall; the likely need for an override, he said, surfaced well over a year ago. He then said he disagreed with how the city's employee unions have been treated by the mayor, who said she wouldn't seek an override until the unions accepted pay freezes—a plan she ultimately failed to live by. Bardsley also asked for a line-item budget, rather than the summary of the budget Higgins and her staff have so far provided. Lastly, he said that, in these "extraordinary times," the city could not afford to be dismissive of people who offer alternative means of raising revenue, such as a group that volunteered to put its professional fundraising skills to work on behalf of the Northampton schools.

Read the complete article...

Valley Advocate: "News Flash: Bardsley Announces Run for Mayor"

Michael Bardsley — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 01:14:00 GMT

Valley Advocate, April 2, 2009:

Today at 3 p.m., after serving for 16 years as a Northampton City Councilor, Michael Bardsley took out candidacy papers and declared his intention to run for mayor against incumbent, Mary Clare Higgins.

“I believe the city needs a different set of leadership skills,” Bardsley said, citing a growing sense of disenfranchisement both from the public and from inside city hall itself. “I’m concerned that our local government and our decision-making process has been cutting corners.”

Read the complete article...