Ward 2 City Council candidates introduce themselves

WESTFIELD — In the Ward 2 race for City Council, incumbent Ralph Figy is being challenged by Jessica Britton.

Running unchallenged as ward councilors are incumbents Karen Fanion in Ward 1, Bridget Matthews-Kane in Ward 3, Michael Burns in Ward 4, John Beltrandi III in Ward 5, and William Onyski in Ward 6.

Recently, Ward 2 candidates Figy and Britton responded to questions asked by Reminder Publishing, the first of which asked them to introduce themselves to our readership, and explain why they are running, or running again for a two-year term on the City Council.
Their responses to question one follow, in alphabetical order.

Answers to the other two questions on Westfield’s and in particular Ward 2’s greatest challenges and strengths will be published in the next issue of The Pennysaver, and in The Westfield News during the week before the election.

Figy: My name is Ralph Figy, and I’ve proudly lived in Westfield since 1978. My wife Susan and I have been married for 43 years, and we raised our two children here. Our son Sean is a micro-reconstructive plastic surgeon at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Buffett Cancer Hospital in Omaha. Our daughter Lauren lives in Westfield with her family and was recently appointed Assistant Principal at Westfield High School. I graduated from Wauseon High School in Ohio in 1969, earned my bachelor’s degree from Anderson College in Indiana in 1973, and completed my master’s in education at North Adams State College in 1979. Over the years, I’ve been deeply involved in our community. I served as President of the Abner Gibbs PTO for 10 years, coached boys’ soccer as well as indoor and outdoor track at Westfield High, and started the Cross-Country Program at Westfield Technical Academy. After 24 years of coaching, I recently retired, but I remain dedicated to serving the people of Westfield.

Britton: I want to represent the true interests of my community. I am not a career politician. I’m not part of a club. And I don’t come from a prominent family that has friends and relatives on all the boards and commissions. I am just like many of you. A hard-working parent, a neighbor, and engaged community member. I grew up and lived here most of my life. I have three children. Two at the WTA. I care about what we are leaving for Westfield’s future generations, and I want residents to still afford to live here. We need a change!