RICHARD K. SULLIVAN JR.
Name: Rick Sullivan
Address: 29 Wildflower Circle
Occupation: President, Western Mass Economic Development Council
What experience and qualifications do you have that would be an asset to the city?
- Opened a private legal practice in 1985, Fallon and Sullivan, (1985-1994)
- Previously served on the City Council (1990-1993) President (1992-1993)
- Mayor of the City of Westfield (1994-June 30, 2007).Working with Department Heads Presented 14 balanced budgets and working with the then City Council to improved City’s credit rating.
- Commissioner for the Department of Conservation (State, 2007-2010)
- Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs (State, Cabinet level position, 2011-May 2014)
- Chief of Staff, Governor Deval Patrick, (June 2014-January 2015) transition to Governor Charlie Baker
- President/CEO Western Mass Economic Development Council (Private not for profit company) (2015-present)
My tenure with the State allowed me to develop professional relationships with State and Federal officials. I will be able to leverage these relationships for the benefit of the City.
Have you recently met with city department heads to discuss their needs/concerns/budgets and if so, which ones?
I have met with many Department Heads and Commissioners including the School Superintendent, Police and Fire Chiefs, Council on Aging Director, Airport Commissioner, and DPW Director. I believe these individuals are the experts in their fields and have the best knowledge of their department’s needs. I have also spoken with teachers, rank and file police and fire personnel, DPW workers, clerical, custodial, and other Westfield employees, as I am a firm believer that the people working in the field everyday have a unique and important perspective on the needs of their departments/agencies. This was my management style as Mayor and would guide me in the future as a City Councilor.
If you could change how the Council works, what would be your priority?
I believe the Council should utilize its committee structure to do the work of the Council. The agendas of the committees must be open to public input as well as meaningful discussion and debate. The Council meetings themselves have become a forum for personal and political agendas at the expense of what is best for the community.
What are your top three areas of concern for Westfield and how would you like to address them?
I have always stood for investment in Westfield’s future – education, public health and safety and economic development. I believe that elections are always about the future. “How will you make Westfield a better place to live, work and raise a family?” When I was Mayor we invested in teachers and new schools, we grew the police and fire departments, built additions to the wastewater treatment faculty to extend sewer service and built a new airport terminal. We bought land to protect our water supplies, established the Winding River Land Trust, bought the land for the Columbia Greenway, bought the property and began construction of the Great River bridges and park system, and initiated the Gaslight district and downtown sidewalk construction, among other projects. These investments happened because the talented and committed people of Westfield worked together, not for a political or personal agenda, but for a better Westfield agenda. I commit to that agenda.
Why should residents vote for you?
My wife Lisa Oleksak-Sullivan and I continue to be committed to the community. Together we have twice chaired the Noble Ball and served as Chair of the Board of the hospital, chaired the YMCA Board, three capital campaigns for the Boys and Girls Club, been a board member of Amelia Park, we are corporators of the Westfield Atheneum, been recognized for community service by the Westfield Red Cross, and Lisa was honored as a Paul Harris recipient by the Westfield Rotary for her work raising funds for infrared helmets for the Westfield Fire Department. But most of all we are parents who chose to raise our family here. All three of our children, Courtney, Kick and Michael, graduated from Westfield High School and continued their education at Quinnipiac University, Bates College and Western New England Law School, and Bentley University. They have careers they thrive in, have married, Ryan Yeager, Mari and Krista, and started their own families – welcome Ash and Rico! Westfield is a great community, it has been good to us, and we see public service and volunteerism as a way to give back and not an avenue to advance a personal or political agenda.
What prompted you to seek an At-Large City Council seat?
I was prompted to run because the tone and agenda of the Council does not currently reflect what is best for our community. I believe my previous answers reflect how much I care about the community of Westfield and how much I value true community service and the talented and committed Westfield public employees. Some members of the Council are more concerned about who wins on an issue, or who is viewed as right, or who can find a loophole to delay or win a vote, or worse set a budget. Not only are these tactics not in the best interest of the City, they are dangerous. Wall Street rating agencies consider these actions when they establish bond ratings, businesses look at these actions when they decide to grow or move to our community, and when potential new residents are deciding if they want to live and raise their families here, they consider how our local government conducts itself. I have a significant record of public service, grounded in respect for the women and men who are public employees. I am humbled by the citizens of the community who have elected me in the past, and appreciative of how much the community has given my family and committed to a better community in the future.
