WESTFIELD – At-Large City Councilor Matthew VanHeynigen turned in his nomination papers at City Hall Friday morning, officially marking his effort to win a seat on the Council again in the upcoming November election. As one of the newest members of the Council elected in November 2013, VanHeynigen stated that the continued city-wide support of constituents for his voice on the Council, and the desires of city residents for better government, are what drives him to seek a seat on the Council once again.
“In my conversations with voters across the City over the past eighteen months that I have served on the Council, they have made it clear that they value my voice, contributions and commitment to represent their interests and serve them in this capacity.”
VanHeynigen points to his role as a member of the Council’s Legislative and Ordinance Committee (L&O) since joining the Council as one in which he has played a valuable role in serving the interests of the city’s constituents. An example VanHeynigen provided was his effort to increase the fines for violations of the City’s noise ordinance, which the Council voted in support of last year.
“After hearing from the Police Department that the previous fines were too modest to truly discourage repeat noise violations, I worked with them and with my fellow Councilors on the L&O to put forth an amended ordinance with more ‘teeth’ that will hopefully help to discourage such violations in the future. Along with Councilors Sullivan (former L&O Chair) and Adams in 2014, then Councilors Figy (current L&O Chair) and Keefe, I have demonstrated an ability to work with my colleagues on the Council while also providing an effective voice for the citizens of Westfield on a range of issues”, VanHeynigen said.
He also points to his role as Chair of the Government Relations Committee and the leadership he assumed on that Committee and on the full Council in last year’s debate regarding the dissolution of the Business Improvement District (BID) as another example of his approach to governance. (In response to downtown business owners who petitioned for the dissolution, VanHeynigen and several of his colleagues voted to dissolve the BID in September 2014). Additionally, VanHeynigen spoke of the various ways he has responded to constituents’ concerns and problems ranging from quality of life to city services, and how he has worked in concert with Ward Councilors and City Department Heads to address and resolve issues for residents across the city.
“I’ve found that what voters want most of all is a government that is responsive to their issues, so I’ve made a concerted effort to be as attentive to constituents’ problems and as efficient as possible in resolving them”, VanHeynigen explained.
A 1992 graduate of Westfield High School and 1996 graduate of Providence College, VanHeynigen returned to Westfield in 2004 when he accepted a position at (then) Westfield State College, where he was part of a team that secured over $3 million in grant funding for Westfield. Since 2008, he has been serving as Director of Grants for Western New England University. He earned a Master’s in Public Administration, with a concentration in Community Development, Management and Planning, from Westfield State in 2007. VanHeynigen and his wife Melissa, a classroom teacher at Paper Mill Elementary School, have three sons, Lincoln (7 years), Beckett (5 years), and Spencer (2 years). He is the son of George and Louise VanHeynigen, both lifelong Westfield residents, and is a sibling to Susan Fratini and Tom VanHeynigen, also of Westfield, and John VanHeynigen, of Chester.
VanHeynigen views his service on the Council both as an honor and a commitment that demands his abilities to listen and deliberate among his fellow Councilors as well as the wider electorate of the City.
“With an election already upon us once again in just a few months, voters will once again have several choices for electing a Council to steer the direction of the City. In the short time I have served on the Council, I have been encouraged by the broad constituent support I have received, and I look forward to reaching out across the City over the coming weeks to continue to build my support for my re-election (in November).”
VanHeynigen said a re-election kick-off event to be held in September will be announced soon.
