Brian R. Hoose and his trusted rescue dog “Ollie” walk one to two hours each day from his home on Arnold Street which affords him a unique perspective on the needs of his constituents. He is running for re-election as a Ward 3 city councilor.
Hoose currently serves as chair of the City Properties Committee, is a member of the License and Government Relations committees, and is the council liaison for the Off Street Parking Commission.
Hoose enjoys engaging city residents on issues that are important to them and said he “likes to have an honest conversation” with people.
“There are times that my constituents disagree with me but respect my honesty when I give them the real facts rather than fabrication of my own to get their support,” he said.
Hoose prides himself on being a straight shooter.
“Life is imperfect, our solutions are thus often imperfect, but it is our job not to just say no, or blame others, our job is to work with our realities to get things done that serve the needs of those we represent,” he said.
Hoose, a U.S. Army veteran, said most of his life has been dedicated to helping people. Prior to his retirement in 2014, he had served as a shift supervisor for the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Westfield State University, with additional training in developmental disabilities from Holyoke Community College, and urban studies and public administration from Worcester State University.
Hoose said his strengths for serving on the Westfield City Council include a background in human behavior, mediation, and team based organization leadership.
“I bring a diverse set of experiences, an education in government, and an ability to work with a diversity of people to resolve problems,” he said. “I bring honesty and sincerity without an agenda whether personal or political.”
Hoose said he left the Democratic Party and became not only an Independent voter, but an advocate for Independent Centrists interests.
“I find party politics too mutually destructive and creating conflicts rather than resolving them,” he said. “I seek how to merge the smarts and resources of our diverse factions to solve problems, not create them.”
When Hoose and Ollie are making the rounds in the neighborhood, he likes to share his flyer with constituents which list his first term “10 positives.” Those “positives” include helping people on Chestnut Street with a burned house; working to establish a playground at Whitney Park; starting the airplane mechanics program at Westfield Technical Academy; welcoming new businesses into the ward, as well as helping other businesses expand; addressing Gaslight District construction concerns; taking on issues with Westfield State University for their neighbors, and the campus students living downtown, and getting road and sidewalk work done on Franklin Street. Also, Hoose said he is working to include more streets in the Whitney Park area and between Hubbard Street and Smith Avenue; regularly checking the Rail Trail by the river and seeking to add an artist space and a snack bar or restaurant with restrooms for bike riders; working with animal control to rescue a wounded turkey buzzard in Allen Park, and dealing with situations of animal abuse; working with the DPW to address the culvert on Dana Street, and lastly, always being willing to talk with constituents about their concerns.
Hoose has several goals he would like to continue working on if re-elected.
“I will continue to help my neighbors, work to bring new businesses to Westfield and enable older businesses to expand, continue to work to improve our neighborhoods, help our schools, our veterans, and improve our parks to be kid and senior friendly,” he said.
Hoose said he will also be an advocate for re-opening a rail line from Westfield to Springfield and to add the city to the newly re-emerging rail services that include Holyoke, Northampton and Greenfield.
“Another goal is to take up the task of examining how we fund our government,” he said. “Our current system is not functional. Life costs, and with more and more technology being vital and costly, and as an older city the cost of infrastructure upgrades will cost us in ways that need to be re-evaluated.”
Hoose also said being retired is a plus since he can meet people at all times of the day, attend meetings, and check in with the police and fire departments.
“I’m also concerned about public safety issues including the use of opioids and will work closely with our community policing department,” he said.
Since he was a teenager, Hoose said he has worked on political campaigns and has learned “from the best” how to make things work.
“I know it can be done,” he said. “I’m approachable and give my constituents the straight facts.”
