WESTFIELD—For Dawn Thomas, she is pursuing the Ward Four City Councilor position because she wants to work for her community.
Thomas, of Loomis Ridge in Westfield, is one of three candidates in the preliminary election for tomorrow’s Ward Four City Councilor position. Thomas, who has lived in Westfield for 50 years and has a family that includes two adult children, comes from a background in finance, has served on a number of local boards and commissions throughout the community and even earned the Chamber of Commerce’s Business Woman of the Year in 2009.
Dawn Thomas
According to Thomas, she has decided to run because now that she has time, she wants to give back.
“Now that I have some time for myself it’s time to pay back to the community,” she said.
Thomas’s experiences include working as a Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for a company she has been with for over 35 years. Her experiences on boards and commissions include a number of spots on Boards of Directors and treasurer, and has included Westfield Women’s Club, Boys and Girls Club the Greater Westfield, Rotary Club of Westfield and the Westfield Chamber of Commerce, the last of which she is also the current President.
In addition to her work and organizational experiences over the past 30-plus years, Thomas graduated from Westfield High School before going to Western New England College, where she gained a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting/management and later with a Master’s in Business Administration.
Thomas said that part of her experiences have included connections to Westfield State University, where she served on the Westfield State College Board of Trustees and Westfield State College Foundation, Inc., and also earned an honorary Doctorate in Public Service from the university in 2013. She said that she also helped to create a grant program through the board and knows many faculty and staff members at the school.
Thomas said that this is her first foray into seeking a political position, and so she is not yet focusing on issues yet, but instead wants to listen to her hopeful-constituents.
“I will listen to you, I will talk with you, I will work collaboratively with other city councilors on issues,” she said.
She also said that she will carry a positive attitude if elected, and work to solve the problems that Westfield residents feel they face.
“I don’t fault people, I don’t give blame. I have a passion to work for you and will work for you,” she said.
