Mayor Joshua Garcia stands on the bar at his election headquarters with City Council and School Committee incumbents and candidates for the November election.
Reminder Publishing photo by Tyler Garnet
HOLYOKE — Although he is running unopposed in the upcoming November election, Mayor Joshua A. Garcia redefined what it means to campaign without an opponent by opening a new campaign headquarters at 120 High St. on Oct. 1.
The new campaign headquarters will serve as a hub for community engagement, where residents can connect with Garcia, meet candidates and incumbents running for City Council and School Committee and celebrate Holyoke’s progress.
The office will remain open through Election Day, conquering divides and fostering unity and civic pride.
Many incumbents and candidates were present at the grand opening on Oct. 1.
Garcia stated the reason for opening the headquarters is to increase resident awareness, voter turnout and continued community participation.
“Now that there’s no mayor’s race I am very concerned, extremely concerned that it’s going to be a low voter turnout,” Garcia stated.
Unlike a traditional campaign, Garcia’s approach isn’t about competing against another candidate. It’s about confronting the challenges facing Holyoke head-on.
Although he mentioned that the city has been doing a lot of positive work in cleaning up the streets, adding new housing, opening a new middle school and improving public safety, he still wants to see how he can make the city better.
He also explained how things don’t get accomplished by one person.
“That ain’t me folks,” Garcia said, “That is largely thanks to the majority support that we have on the City Council. The mayor’s race is important but I have no contender. Equally important, probably the most important is the race for City Council. I need people, and we have a race for School Committee, I need more support than what we have.”
Garcia expressed his displeasure with running unopposed and stated he was humbled but also “very frustrated.”
“I kept hearing I was lucky to run unopposed, but I felt the opposite,” Garcia said, “Without an opponent, I missed the chance to talk about what we’ve accomplished together and my commitment to this city. Then it hit me: my opponents are Holyoke’s opponents, every challenge we face as an urban community.”
Garcia identified these challenges as insufficient federal and state funding for aging infrastructure, absentee landlords and blight, illegal activity and self-serving political agendas.
One of his biggest fights is against the misperception that Holyoke is a city of unconquerable problems.
“Some still see Holyoke through the lens of past struggles, like the state’s takeover of our schools a decade ago,” Garcia said, “That chapter is closed, and we’re breaking the chains of every other obstacle by working together.”
Garcia also talked about his campaign outlook since he is running unopposed.
He said, “This campaign isn’t just about my reelection. It’s also about the election and reelection of city councilors that don’t just delay and deny, but truly care about showing the world how great Holyoke truly is. It’s about Holyokers coming together to overcome divisive rhetoric and supporting candidates that aren’t afraid to make important decisions that will build a thriving future.”
As of Oct. 1, supporters were able to pick up campaign lawn signs to display as a symbol of unity and dedication to Holyoke.
“A sign isn’t just a sign,” Garcia added. “It’s a powerful statement of our shared commitment to this city.”
