Bitzas seeks re-election to council

My name is George Bitzas and I am running for reelection to the Agawam City Council. I am asking you again, all the people of Agawam and Feeding Hills, to vote for me on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, so that I will be able to continue serving you and our town with honesty, integrity, and common sense.
It has been a great pleasure and an honor to work for you the people of Agawam as your City Councilor. I am very proud of my many accomplishments. I feel that my record and actions speaks for itself and the people of Agawam are well aware of my actions and my accomplishments.
We must continue working together to improve the elderly services enabling our elderly population to enjoy their lives. I was honored, proud and happy to receive from the Agawam Council on Aging the prestigious Andrew Gallano award for diligent, meritorious and selfless service to Agawam Seniors.
Our town keeps on growing quickly and we must work together and protect the small town character and maintain town services that make Agawam such an inviting place to live and raise a family.
I am a graduate of Westfield State University and taught at West Springfield Junior and Senior High School. I am married to Margaret Bitzas, a teacher at James Clark School in Agawam. We have three children, Christopher, Peter and Katherine and our first granddaughter, three month old Alexandra.

Johnson formally announces candidacy

Chris Johnson recently formally announced his candidacy for election to the Agawam City Council. Chris is a lifelong resident of Agawam and now resides in Feeding Hills with his wife and two children. Chris is a graduate of Agawam High School. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from American International College and a Juris Doctor from Western New England University.
Chris is a practicing attorney and a partner at Johnson, Sclafani and Moriarty. He previously served as mayor of Agawam from 1989 to 2000 and as a member of the town council from 1988 to 1989. Chris currently serves on the Board of Trustees at Springfield Technical Community College, and previously served on the Board of Directors at the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Captain Charles Leonard House in Agawam.
“I am asking the people of Agawam and Feeding Hills for their support on Nov. 8,” Chris said, adding, “I will work hard to do what is in the best interests of our community. I will strive to make Agawam a better place to live, work and raise a family.”

Cavallo announces candidacy

Paul C. Cavallo, a former two term city councilor and one term school committee member (with one year as vice chairman) recently announced his candidacy for Agawam City Council. He cites his experience on both governmental bodies as one of his major qualifications in seeking the office of city councilor.
Cavallo has been an educator for 48 years. He has worked in the Agawam School System as a guidance counselor, guidance director, assistant principal and principal of Agawam High School. Since his retirement from the Agawam School System, he has been an adjunct professor of English at Springfield Technical Community College for the past 10 years. He is the president of the Agawam Retired Employees Association. He is the holder of a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from American International College and a Master’s degree in educational administration from Westfield State College.
Cavallo is married to the former Joan Allen of Agawam and is the father of two sons, Paul who lives in Long Island, N.Y., and Scott who lives in Needham with his wife Jennifer and two children, Julia and Nicholas.
If elected, Cavallo pledges to serve the people of Agawam. He is proud of his achievements and looks forward to making Agawam a city that other communities will envy.

Chester Seeks Council Seat

I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Billy Chester and I reside at 320 Barry St., Feeding Hills with my wife, Helen. We have two married children. I am seeking the office of City Councilor.
I was born and grew-up in Indiana farm country. After graduation from High School, I enlisted in the United States Air Force serving from 1960 to 1964 during which time I met my future wife. Upon discharge, I returned to Massachusetts and married.
While working full-time and raising a family, I obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration attending ten years in the Evening Division of American International College. Having spent my career in the administrative field, I am retired.
Being born and growing up in the Mid-West, I am not an Agawam native, business owner, teacher, lawyer, or retired town employee, but the average resident and taxpayer of Agawam. In fact, I have not held any political office. I am obligated to no one but you, the people of Agawam, and will work diligently for you. I ask for the opportunity to serve you.

Gina Letellier announces city council re-election bid

Attorney Gina M. Letellier, Agawam city councilor, recently announced her candidacy for reelection to the Agawam City Council, stating, “It has been my honor to serve the citizens of Agawam as ‘Your City Councilor’ and I ask for your vote again on Tuesday, Nov. 8.”
As a small business owner with an office in Agawam, I understand the challenges faced by small businesses and the opportunities they bring to town. My law office, Letellier Law Offices, PC, has been located in Agawam since 2002.
My dedication and commitment to Agawam extend beyond my service on the Council. I am an active member and officer of the Agawam Rotary Club and the Agawam Democratic Town Committee. I have been a volunteer attorney for Habitat for Humanity, the Massachusetts Justice Project and the Hampden County Bar Association. I volunteered my legal services to incorporate the Friends of the Agawam Public Library. I previously served as President of the Board of Directors of the Parish Cupboard and was on the Finance Committee for All Saints Parish.
Since I first ran for City Council, I have promised to be “Your City Councilor.” It is a promise I take seriously. I use my education and experience to research both sides of an issue and make an informed decision. I am a proud graduate of Agawam High School, Class of 1985, a 1989 graduate of Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., and a 1993 graduate of Western New England College School of Law. I look forward to enrolling my son in the Agawam Public Schools.
I ask for your vote on Nov. 8. Thank you.

Joe Mineo has announced his candidacy for re-election to the Agawam City Council

I have been humbled by the trust and confidence you have shown to me the past 12 years as I have had the honor of representing the citizens of Agawam in our City Council. I am grateful for the support you have given me. Together I know we have helped to make Agawam “…a wonderful place to live, work and an alluring place to visit.”
These are still challenging times for Agawam. Local aid and other financial issues continue to present as major concerns. Now, more than ever, we will need strong leadership to make decisions that will only grow increasingly difficult.
I am committed to rolling up my sleeves and facing these and all our great city’s problems directly. I promise to provide the experience, energy and hard work necessary to navigate these troublesome times. City Councilor is a role I view as not just a part-time job but as a full-time responsibility. I am proud of the record we have compiled together over the past 12 years.
I have been proud to live in a community such as Agawam for over twenty five years. Thank you for being such wonderful neighbors and friends. Agawam is a wonderful place to call home because of you. I want to sincerely thank you, the voters, for your generous support in the past and to again ask for your support on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 so we can continue the critical work of our city. As always if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at (413) 789-4356. We are in this together for the good of Agawam.

Bob Rossi to run for City Council

Robert Rossi recently announced his re-election campaign.
“When I first sought the office of City Council I made a promise that I would work diligently in the same manner and tradition that I have served the public safety needs of Agawam with pride, commitment and the kind of leadership on which you can count. I believe that I have kept that promise by providing a strong and independent voice for all citizens of Agawam. With your help and support, I will continue to honor that promise and continue to protect your interests in making Agawam a better place to live”.
Rossi said he feels most honored and privileged to be serving his most recent role on the City Council, as chairman of the Southwest Sewer Project.
Rossi, a retired police lieutenant with the Agawam Police Department holds a Bachelor’s Degree in criminal justice from Western New England College, a Master’s Degree in criminal justice studies and interpersonal relationships from American International College, as well as a Certificate of Command Management at Babson College.
He has served as adjunct faculty at Westfield State College, Springfield Technical Community College and the Western Mass. Regional Police Academy. Since his retirement, Rossi has been on staff as an arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau of Central New England, where his has earned the distinction of Arbitrator of the Year.
Rossi lives on Colemore Street with his wife Lois.

Cecilia Calabrese announces election bid

AGAWAM — Cecilia Calabrese announced Oct. 10 her plans to run for re-election to the Agawam City Council. Calabrese, an attorney and local businesswoman, is seeking a fourth term on the Council of which she has served as Finance Committee Chair and Council Vice President.
During her previous terms as a City Councilor, Calabrese hosted open forums and roundtable discussions on issues such as spending on special education programs in the Agawam schools and the effects statewide budget cuts to programs designed to provide respite care to families living with various disabilities.
Calabrese sits on the Board of Directors of the Agawam Robotics Education Association and donates her time and expertise to providing legal counsel, fundraising and outreach into the business community for the benefit of Agawam High School students. She is a former member of the Go Green Agawam Committee, a former member of the Parent Advisory Council, a prior Special Education liaison for the Agawam school district and former Advisory Board Member of the Hampden County Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.
Calabrese is married to her husband of 26 years, Agawam native Dr. Michael Calabrese. She is the mother of two children.