NORTHAMPTON — Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra has called for a public debate between her and the other two mayoral candidates in this year’s municipal election, proposing multiple public forums to be held before preliminary elections in September.

“First, I want to thank you for running for office. Healthy democracies need people like you willing to step up in hopes of serving their communities,” Sciarra wrote in a letter, released publicly by her campaign team on Monday, addressed to the other two candidates, Dave Dombrowski and Jillian Duclos. “Healthy democracies also need robust debate and discussion so that community members can make informed decisions.”

Sciarra proposed three separate debates before the Sept. 16 preliminary election: one in July, one in August and one in early September. The forums would be hosted by a “neutral organization,” such as the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, the League of Women voters or a local media organization (the Daily Hampshire Gazette was named as one such organization.)

“I suspect finding dates and times that work for all three of us might be a little tricky,” Sciarra wrote. “So, if you are interested in participating, let’s try to nail down dates and times as soon as possible before our campaign calendars fill up.”

Duclos did not immediately return requests for comment regarding whether she would be open to participating in such a forum. In a statement to the Gazette, Dombrowski said he was weighing his options on whether he could participate.

“I think it’s a bit much in a short period of time,” Dombrowski said. “However, I am considering one town hall event, early in September 2025, lasting a couple of hours and where the residents ask the questions.”

Dombrowski said he expected to make his decision on whether to participate by Monday.

Loisel first in Ward 3to earn certification

Laurie Loisel has cleared enough validated signatures to be a certified candidate on the municipal ballot, the first candidate in a highly contested Ward 3 race to do so.

Loisel validated 128 signatures with the city clerk’s office on May 20. This came after she had held a kickoff event at Click Workspace on Market Street that drew supporters to her candidacy.

“This is a grassroots campaign with widespread support and many of the volunteers for this campaign have lived or have roots in Ward 3 that go back decades,” said Jennifer Dieringer, the campaign chair for Loisel. “We are excited to support a candidate with experience, maturity and the temperament to represent our ward, who will work to keep our city as strong as it can be amid turbulent political times.”

Loisel, director of communication and community engagement for the Northwestern district attorney’s office since 2015, previously worked as a reporter and editor at the Daily Hampshire Gazette for 29 years. She moved to Northampton in 1983.

Three other candidates also have pulled nomination papers for Ward 3, those being Ace Tayloe, Lyle Labarge and incumbent member Quaverly Rothenberg, who is seeking a second term.

Simon to challenge for Ward 2 council position

A second candidate has emerged to challenge Deb Pastrich-Klemer for the Ward 2 seat on City Council, one who brings experience working in municipal government and who has previously spoken critically of Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra’s administration.

Al Simon, who emerged as a prominent voice advocating for higher school spending in the city during last year’s contentious budget season, has pulled nomination papers to run in Ward 2, according to the city clerk’s office. Simon has previous experience working in municipal government, having served on the city council and as deputy mayor in Windsor, Connecticut before moving to Northampton.

“I’m doing this with a bunch of committed people to support public education under attack in Northampton,” Simon wrote on social media last week announcing his candidacy. “Based on my prior municipal government experience, I’ve got many other issues as well.”

Simon also previously served as the chair of the Support Our Schools Political Action Committee, which looks to raise funds to support candidates in favor of higher school spending in the city in the upcoming election. PACs like Support Our Schools cannot raise funds for candidates directly, but can spend money on political advertising and other means of support.

Simon told the Gazette he resigned from the position before getting the nomination papers to run for office.

“I resigned in early May,” Simon said. “You can’t do both of those things at the same time.”

Campaign Notebook is a periodic compilation of news, events and other notes during what is shaping up to be a busy municipal election season. To submit items for inclusion, email newsroom@gazettenet.com.

Alexander MacDougall can be reached at amacdougall@gazettenet.com.