EASTHAMPTON — With the Nov. 4 general election fast approaching, Reminder Publishing sent questionnaires to City Council and School Committee candidates on the ballot.
This year’s at large City Council race includes five candidates for four seats, including incumbent Koni Denham, and newcomers Kiam Jamrog-McQuaid, Nathan Markee, Karl Prahl and Jonathan Schmidt.
As of print time, a fifth candidate, Timothy St. John, was listed on the city’s list of official candidates, but St. John confirmed to Reminder Publishing he has dropped out of the race.
Reminder Publishing asked each candidate the same three questions so readers can get a look at who they are and what they hope to accomplish if elected. The candidates are listed in alphabetical order.
More coverage on the upcoming Easthampton election will appear in future editions.
Reminder Publishing: What are one or two things you think voters should know about you?
Denham: I’m fiercely loyal to the residents of Easthampton and to the employees of this city. I’ve spent the last four years advocating on behalf of a variety of constituents. I work to center voices, give space to organize, and support their agency to create the change that they want to see in their community. The decisions and choices that I make are grounded in my commitment to fairness and equity. I seek to understand multiple perspectives and find common ground so that residents have their needs met.
Jamrog-McQuaid: I am a lifelong resident with family ties to Easthampton, and I am deeply invested in our city’s future. I want Easthampton to thrive and adapt to upcoming economic changes and challenges posed by climate change, ensuring both long-time residents and young people can afford to stay here. I believe in government that improves everyone’s lives through pragmatic, evidence-based policymaking.
Markee: Currently, I serve as the chair of the Easthampton Democratic Committee and am on the Board of Directors for Easthampton Media (E-Media). I’ve lived here for over six years, giving me a deep understanding of our community’s needs. I am a working-class single father who owns their own contracting business. I am also a renter, and I know firsthand what it means to keep to a very tight budget at times. This combination of community leadership, business experience, and practical financial knowledge gives me the unique perspective needed to serve effectively on the City Council.
Prahl: I operate a small farm here in Easthampton, raising food sustainably for local markets, sourcing supplies from other local businesses and keeping true to the idea of recycling dollars in the local economy and community. It is rarely the cheapest option, but putting money in my neighbors pocket helps them purchase food from me, making it the sustainable option. In contrast to conventional farming, I limit the scale of my operations to ensure that the land is nourished and food can continue to be raised off the same soil for generations to come. The land is all of our golden goose.
Schmidt: If you’ve visited the youth department at the Easthampton Public Library, there’s a good chance we’ve already met. Perhaps I’ve connected you with a particular resource or engaged with your child at one of our programs. As a librarian, part of my job is to know how to listen — to ask good clarifying questions in order to understand and meet someone’s needs. I’m well-versed in assessing the reliability of information, and I’m mindful of bias, both in what I learn and in myself. I’m excited to bring these skills, with leadership rooted in empathy and reason, to the council.
RP: What qualities or experience make you qualified to serve as an at-large city councilor?
Denham: If residents are kind enough to reelect me then this will be my third term. I’ve spent the last four years serving on the Finance Committee, two years on the Rules and Government Relations Committee, as well as chair of the Ordinance Committee. I’ve supported other city committees including the BEES Committee, the Affordable & Fair Housing Partnership, the Commission on Disabilities, and the Community Relations Committee. I’ve collaborated with other councilors on resolutions to support our artists, schools, renters, underrepresented community groups, all of which to help residents be seen and welcomed in our community.
Jamrog-McQuaid: In my day job as an economic and public policy research analyst, I frequently work with data to help inform policy decisions at the local and state level. I’ve also earned a master’s in public policy and administration, which included training in several skills that apply to work in public service, such as public management & finance, grant writing, policy analysis, statistical analysis, and negotiations. I have already applied this background to my four years of housing advocacy work in the community on the Affordable and Fair Housing Partnership, which has furthered these skills and given me additional experience in public engagement and the local policy process.
Markee: This year, I completed the Easthampton Municipal Academy in preparation for a potential run for City Council. That training gave me essential knowledge about the different departments within our city and how they operate. Public service has been a core passion of mine from an early age; my first step was serving as an election official when I was just 19. My approach to effective leadership is centered on coalition building, collaboration and teamwork. I will bring these skills to the council to ensure we work effectively for all Easthampton residents.
Prahl: Running a small business and renting a home makes me all too familiar with the precarious financial situation many Easthampton residents find themselves in. Being among the working poor heightens my sensitivity and concern to even small increases in the cost of housing, electricity, trash, food and any number of other out of control expenses. I will bring that concern to City Hall.
Schmidt: I served two terms as a member of the Easthampton School Committee, from 2018-2021, which gave me first-hand experience as an elected official working within city government. I provided oversight for the school’s budget as a member of the finance subcommittee, so I am already familiar with more than 1/3 of the city’s overall budget. Having served during the height of the pandemic, I’ve navigated difficult votes on matters with no clear right answer. Those experiences taught me to stay true to my values, to speak up for what I believe, and to govern collaboratively.
RP: What is your overall message to voters ahead of the election?
Denham: There are a great many challenges ahead of us and I believe that we can solve them together. Easthampton is a resilient, working-class community with residents willing to stick up for each other. I will continue to work with other councilors to support the varied interests of our constituents, including seniors, veterans, artists, homeowners and renters, and business owners. I’ll also do everything in my power to support all of the departments in the city to ensure residents are getting the services that they need and expect.
Jamrog-McQuaid: I am running to play a bigger role in building a more affordable, sustainable and resilient Easthampton, but I can’t do it alone. Now, more than ever, we need to build community locally, talk to our neighbors, and do the work to create the world we want to live in. I hope to serve as your representative, and as a resource for the work you want to accomplish in our community. I ask for your vote on Nov. 4.
Markee: Are you looking for a candidate who is both progressive and pragmatic? Someone who is direct and will level with folks? Someone who will fiercely fight for marginalized communities? Then I am your candidate. Times may be tough ahead, with deep funding cuts and increasing authoritarianism coming down from the federal government. But folks like me know how to get things done. We come up with creative solutions and deliver results, even with very little. I’m ready to lead and secure a better future for all of us.
Prahl: If selected to represent Easthampton at-large, I will look to build resilience in municipal services while working to expand what Easthampton offers its residents so that we can control as much of the cost of living as possible. We cannot rely on private equity, Wall Street, Beacon Hill or Washington DC to work for our best interests. We have to make sure our schools are funded, and our roads get repaired. That trash gets picked up and our lights turn on regardless of what somebody somewhere else decides is best. We have to take control of our lives and that starts with controlling where we live and the means of living it.
Schmidt: We have so much good going for us here in Easthampton, and I want to do what I can to ensure our community remains as safe and stable as possible throughout the challenging years ahead. Now more than ever, local leaders must strive to ensure their community’s basic needs are getting met — like housing and food security, and education. With each decision we face, we must also consider our impact on the future. There are choices we can make now to leave a city for future generations that is cleaner, sustainably designed, and resilient to change.
