Tracy Cesan is the Independent challenger to Fred Arnold for the only Select Board seat up for election May 8.
Cesan, 39, was the Parks and Recreation Commission assistant for three years and recently took the full-time position as assistant to Fire Chief Richard Anderson.
Cesan said while working closely with other town departments, she saw first-hand how things are run, and where Town Hall could improve.
“I see how Town Hall runs and the places there could be improvements to make it more user-friendly,” said Cesan. “I believe there are positive, cost-effective changes we can make to enhance our services and in turn promote and disseminate productivity and public unity. Southwick needs unbiased leadership.”
Cesan said she did not want to be a person who sits on the sidelines and decided to run as an Independent candidate for Southwick Select Board.
“My husband is a Republican and my parents are Democrats, and I am truly in the middle,” said Cesan. “I think in a town like Southwick, people should vote not on political parties but for the person.”
Cesan said her campaign platform is simple: “I will be open, honest, and fair,” she said.
“I want transparency and I want to work with the public,” said Cesan, who said if elected she plans to write a bi-weekly editorial for The Westfield News to help keep the public informed.
Part of Cesan’s plans for transparency include working to get meetings televised on Channel 15.
“People should be able to watch these meetings, since a lot of residents cannot attend them,” she said. “Our government should be easy access.”
Accessibility is something Cesan said is lacking with town leaders.
“I am out in the community all the time,” she said. “My kids play sports and I attend their games, I go to fundraisers and meetings in town and people can catch me at the grocery store or walking on the Rail Trail.”
On Cesan’s website, www.tracycesan.org, she lists several campaign commitments, including demanding a review of town hall salaries and putting a stop to government waste.
Cesan said Southwick is a land of opportunity.
“People are busy, but if you make accessing town government easy, you can get them involved,” she said. “We’re a small community – we can do this.”
“Southwick is a recreation community and there are opportunities to bring in big numbers of people at the lakes, and the Rail Trail brings in a lot of people,” said Cesan. “There are opportunities for Southwick to advance and that means working from the top down.”
Cesan said she would push for a five-year, fiscally responsible plan for the town.
“Let’s get department heads together sharing information,” she said. “The Select Board works for the citizens of Southwick, not the other way around. We have to get rid of the stale, old school politics and be proactive and positive.”
Cesan graduated from Western New England College with a degree in psychology and a minor in criminal justice. Her husband Paul is a state trooper. They have a 14 year-old daughter Brittany and 10 year-old son Johnny. Prior to having children, Cesan worked at Mass Mutual as a pension administrator and received her real estate license. Cesan grew up in Agawam and purchased her first home in Southwick at 20 years old. She and her family have lived in town for 19 years.
“I chose Southwick because it is a wonderful town,” said Cesan. “At the time, it was up-and-coming and a lot of my friends were moving here. It is still a wonderful town with a lot of possibilities. My heart is in this and I want to give Southwick a choice.”
