Ward 3 Councilor Andrew K. Surprise (WNG File Photo)
WESTFIELD – Andrew K. Surprise is seeking re-election as Ward 3 City Councilor in the November 7 election. Surprise said he’s most proud of “following through on what I said I’d do.” He said he worked to stabilize property taxes, and there was no property tax increase for the first time in years. He also said he voted against all tax increases, except voting for a local options tax on marijuana.
In Ward 3, he said Franklin Street was redone after 15 years, and the Western Avenue project design is almost completed. He has met with the Mass DOT, the city engineer and the mayor on the project, who he said have agreed to keep the concrete sidewalks for the multi-lane path. The estimated start time on the project is August-September of 2018.
Surprise said he is happy to see new businesses in downtown, naming Circuit Coffee, Stella’s, Skyline and Rosewood among them. “We do need more retail,” he said, adding that many of the new businesses are renters rather than owners who are more difficult to attract because of the tax rate on businesses.
He is a founding member and vice president of the Arts and Cultural District, “ArtWorks.” Surprise said Artworks doesn’t want to replicate WOW, which holds large events, but complement them with small events throughout the year. He said in order to get an Arts & Cultural designation from the state, a city must have consistent events in a walkable area.
Surprise believes being a ward councilor means providing consistent service. One of the major issues now is Baystate Noble’s interest in seeking a Hospital Zone. He said he is working with the residents to help allay any issues they have, and has met with the president and board of directors of the hospital.
Surprise grew up in Springfield, and moved to Westfield 12 years ago after his parents moved here. His mother has a chronic illness, and he wanted to be nearby. He fell in love with the city, which reminds him of the Hungry Hill neighborhood where he grew up. Surprise is engaged to Amy Brown, who is working on her master’s in social work at Westfield State University. In his professional life, Surprise is in communications, working on campaigns, social media and for non-profits. He said he decided to run for office after he blew out a tire two years in a row and got upset.
“A lot of time Westfield spends the wrong pots of money on the wrong purposes,” Surprise said, adding, “It’s getting better.” For example, he said this year, they got $250,000 out of the regular budget for the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail and sent it to the Community Preservation Commission. He said in the past the city has spent millions of Chapter 90 funds on the Rail Trail which could have been spent on roads. Using CPA funds for the Rail Trail, they could have done both, he said.
Surprise said If he is lucky enough to be re-elected, he is going to advocate for an open checkbook for the city, so residents can see how every dollar is spent, something Springfield, Chicopee and Greenfield already have.
Surprise said residents tell him he is the first city official ever to talk them, which he called “humbling.” He believes there has been a lack of transparency and access, and strives for regular ward meetings and office hours. “I can’t properly represent the neighborhood if I don’t know what’s going on,” Surprise said.
