WESTFIELD – Steve Dondley narrowly missed his first bid for a Westfield City Council At-large seat two years ago. This November, Dondley plans to win that seat.
When asked why he is running, Dondley said his reasons are simple.
“First and foremost, I care about people,” he said. “I care about the city and I want to see it prosper and do well.”
Dondley, who lives on Kane Brothers Circle, has been knocking on doors across the city and said he has a good understanding of what residents want and need.
“A lot of people want to see downtown turned around,” he said. “That’s come up a lot. People don’t want to see boarded up buildings and empty parking lots.”
Dondley said taxes are another priority. He said increasing revenue will offset taxes for residents.
“I’m all for light industrial development on the north side of town,” he said. “Just 27 percent of the city’s revenues come from commercial and industrial taxes, compared to 40 percent in Agawam and almost 50 percent in West Springfield. I’m not saying we can increase that much, but we can do better.”
Dondley also supports a ballot initiative that would increase taxes four percent for people who earn one million dollars or more.
“It’s estimated that would bring in over one billion dollars a year,” he said. “That money would be earmarked for Chapter 70 and 90 funds.”
Dondley grew up in the Hungry Hill section of Springfield and joined the U.S. Navy after high school. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and worked in the labor movement as a labor organizer. In 2006, he started his own company, Prometheus Labor Communications, where he designs and hosts websites for labor unions.
Dondley and his wife Morena and son Sean have called Westfield home since 2002.
He grew to love Westfield and wants to be part of the solution to concerns in the city.
“I really like people and working cooperatively to solve problems,” he said. “I enjoy challenges and I am able to devote the time needed to be an effective councilor.”
Dondley said he would consider a seat on the council his second full-time job.
