Group gearing up for Ward 3 race for City Council

A coalition of Ward 3 residents concerned about their representation in city government has established a committee supporting longtime Ward 3 resident Laurie Loisel in a bid for City Council.

Loisel, 64, has lived on Grant Avenue since 1992. She was a reporter and editor at the Daily Hampshire Gazette for 29 years. She is currently director of communication and community engagement for the Northwestern District Attorney’s office, where she has worked since 2015.

 Loisel served on the Northampton Human Rights Commission from 2015-2020 and has served as president and in other leadership roles at the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence. She said she decided to mount a bid for council after attending a meeting in which Ward 3 residents expressed their concerns about Ward 3 leadership on the council.

Ward 3 resident Mike Goggins joined the committee and said he is thrilled to support the candidacy of Loisel. “I’ve known Laurie for 30 years, from back when she was a young reporter and I was an assistant district attorney,” said Goggins, now a retired district court judge. “She has a wealth of skills and life experiences to bring to this important public service position. She is smart, hardworking and fearless, and yes, from experience I can assure you she will ask all the tough questions, but will do so in a thoughtful and respectful manner.”

Kelsey Flynn, also of Ward 3, said Loisel’s decades as a journalist in the city mean she brings a unique and valued skill set to the job. “She’s had a ringside seat to how municipal government works. She’s also an easy person to talk to, making people feel welcome to share, no matter their perspective,” said Flynn. 

“I have lived in Northampton and loved this city since I first moved here in 1983. I feel motivated now to work hard to keep our local government functioning smoothly in part because I am worried about the threats a second Trump presidency will mean to people who are the most vulnerable among us,” said Loisel. “When we work together as a community, we can mitigate those threats.” 

Ward 3 resident Jen Dieringer is serving as chair of the Loisel for Ward 3 Committee and Jennifer Nery has signed on as campaign treasurer.