School Committee Vice Chair Gwen Agna
Rev. Andrea Ayvazian and Michael Klare
Kristen Beam
Former City Councilor Dennis Bidwell
Barbara Black
Robert Boulrice and Rich Cooper
Anna Bowen
Linda Desmond and Cindy Langley
Celia Doremus (Chair, Massachusetts Sierra Club)
Northampton Youth Commission Members Amelia Durbin, Ursa Rossman and Ansel Turner
City Councilor Marissa Elkins
Jane Fleishman and Joan Tabachnick
Wendy Foxmyn
Former School Committee Member Lucy Hartry
Former Mayor Clare Higgins and Former City Council President Bill Dwight
Jeanne Henry Hoose
Rev. Dr. Peter B. Ives and Jenny Fleming-Ives
City Council President Alex Jarrett
Fred Kass
Tsultrem Kunsang
Patricia Lewis
Javier Luengo-Garrido
School Committee Member Margaret Miller
Shannon Montanez (Chair, Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus PAC Board of Directors)
City Councilor Stan Moulton
City Councilor Garrick Perry
Joyce Rosenfeld
Former City Councilor Pamela Schwartz
Sarah Smith
Letitia Ward

School Committee Vice Chair Gwen Agna: Our mayor truly cares for our city and especially our children. She has worked tirelessly to support our schools–the educators, the families, and the students.

Kristen Beam: As the parent of an eighth grader at JFK Middle School, I’ve seen firsthand how much our schools rely on community support and how much our students care about the future of Northampton. At the recent mayoral forum, my child asked how the city can help schools with fundraising. It was a reminder that our young people are paying attention. They deserve leaders who are, too. That’s why I support Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra’s reelection. Under her leadership, Northampton has increased funding for our public schools by more than 30% since 2022, with year after year of historic, sustained investment. She has made clear that education is the foundation of a thriving community. (Read more in the “Daily Hampshire Gazette” and watch Kristen and Genny’s endorsement video below)

Former City Councilor Dennis Bidwell: I write as an enthusiastic supporter of Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, whom I had the privilege of serving with for four years on the Northampton City Council. Then and now I know her to be a person of high integrity, honesty, empathy, and someone who doesn’t run from the tough decisions that go with the job. (Read the full letter in the “Daily Hampshire Gazette.”)

Barbara Black: I’m a retired early childhood educator. I was the early childhood director for the Northampton Public Schools for 21 years … I am honored to be able to speak in support of GL. I first met her when her kids were in preschool and I knew from then that she’s somebody who really understands, cares about what children and families need. And I think that’s still true today. And given the times we’re in, we need somebody who understands that, and who can navigate through the crazy waters we’re in right now … She is what our city and our schools need.

(Watch Barbara Black’s remarks from Mayor Sciarra’s campaign kickoff event below.)

Robert Boulrice and Rich Cooper: In the best of times, public service is a thankless job. In lesser times, it takes an extraordinary person to withstand the relentless slings and arrows. We thank our Mayor, Gina-Louise Sciarra, an extraordinary person … We have been around long enough to have observed several cycles of good and bad times. We know that it takes strong leadership to negotiate challenging times. Mayor Sciarra is a strong, compassionate, forward-thinking leader. We support her re-election. (Read the full letter in the “Daily Hampshire Gazette” and watch Rich Cooper’s remarks from Mayor Sciarra’s campaign kickoff below.)

Anna Bowen: As a small business owner, I have worked with Mayor Sciarra on several areas of economic development in downtown Northampton. I am impressed by the enthusiasm level of Mayor Sciarra as she attends public events, from fundraisers for non-profits, ribbon cuttings for new businesses, and community clean-up days. I am thankful for her experience with municipal budgeting, her ability to allocate resources resourcefully, and her encyclopedic knowledge of state rules and regulations.  Above all, I appreciate how she is readily available, asks thoughtful questions, and takes into account the insights of others when making tough decisions. Mayor Sciarra’s continued efforts to respond to the needs and concerns of the community are a testament to her leadership of Northampton.

Linda Desmond and Cindy Langley: Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra is a leader for all of Northampton, regardless of age, location in the city, or the many demographic factors that make Northampton the city we cherish and value. In our respective roles as past Northampton Senior Services directors, and with years of national (and in Linda’s case) international experience in the aging field, we know what makes a leader and supporter of an age inclusive community. Mayor Sciarra is that type of leader. Northampton has become and remains a retirement destination — nearly 30% of the city’s population is over 60. In the previous mayoral administration, Northampton was designated an age friendly community, and in her current administration Mayor Sciarra has continued that priority by asking city department heads to assess and improve their “age friendliness,” she is a catalyst for coordination of services. She hired and empowered a Senior Services director to enhance the city’s offerings to a growing and vibrant older adult population. Mayor Sciarra recognizes and advocates for the wide span of needs and wants of this age cohort. We strongly support her re-election and urge you to join us in voting for her on Nov. 4. (Read the full letter in the “Daily Hampshire Gazette.”)

Celia Doremus (Chair, Massachusetts Sierra Club): The Massachusetts Sierra Club is happy to endorse Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra and looks forward to working with her to continue her remarkable environmental efforts in Northampton and surrounding communities. Sciarra’s environmental record as Mayor of Northampton speaks for itself. Her focus on green energy and environmental quality, her concern for the low-income residents in Northampton and nearby communities, has led to improved health conditions for disadvantaged residents. In addition, throughout her public service, she has never wavered on the importance of providing community education, government energy efficiency incentives, and a long-term vision, as evident in her work on the Picture Main Street redesign of the downtown area.

Northampton Youth Commission Members Amelia Durbin, Ursa Rossman and Ansel Turner: We’ve loved how collaborative she is, how responsive she is to our questions and our concerns. It’s been a really great experience working with her and we hope to re-elect her this fall.

(Watch their full endorsement video below, as well as Amelia Durbin’s remarks from Mayor Sciarra’s September 3 “Party for the Prelim.”)

City Councilor Marissa Elkins: Under the leadership of Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, we have modernized our city government to serve our progressive priorities. Innovative policies, reimagined public services like the Department of Community Care and the Climate Action & Project Administration Department, and good old fashioned sensible financial management will serve as bulwarks against the moral collapse taking place on the federal level on climate crisis, public education, and basic human decency. I am enthusiastically and without reservation voting to return Mayor Sciarra to office.

Jane Fleishman and Joan Tabachnick: Mayor Sciarra has demonstrated her skills as a steady manager through turbulent times and we need that even more today. She has brought quiet innovations to our community including working with many others in our community to increase affordable housing, creating the Department of Community Care, offering free transportation to seniors, increased property tax exemptions, and a new Climate Action office that decreased city energy use, increased funding to improve our roads and sidewalks, and so much more that often goes unnoticed. (Read the full letter in the “Daily Hampshire Gazette.”)

Wendy Foxmyn: I write in strong support for her re-election. As a former municipal official, I remain interested in and follow local government activities in Northampton and other communities and see the challenges we face in Northampton are similarly-faced in most other cities and towns across the state. I usually, but do not always share the policy positions of Mayor Sciarra, yet I am confident in her professionalism, abilities, values, desire to listen and learn, and commitment to our community. I know first-hand how challenging it is to satisfy the interests of a perspective-diverse community within the limits of a municipal government in Massachusetts. (Read the full letter in the “Daily Hampshire Gazette.”)

Lucy Hartry: As a former School Committee member, I appreciate all the Mayor has done for the schools in these difficult funding times. The City has many needs and I believe she balances them as well as anyone could. I will vote for GL for Mayor of Northampton in November.

Former Mayor Clare Higgins: Every time there’s been a contest, there’s been robust discussion. And people have been tested against each other. And I think GL has more than met the test in terms of the work that she’s done as mayor and before that as City Council President. I trust her to lead the city during the next four years. And I’m really glad she wants to do it because we need a leader like her. (Watch her endorsement video with Former City Council President Bill Dwight below.)

Jeanne Henry Hoose: She listens to the people she represents and makes decisions, sometimes tough ones, that best maintain the services and infrastructure of our city while preserving its future. I am a retired public school teacher who believes that we should value all people and that it is our responsibility to contribute to our communities. Mayor Sciarra shows up to support people with disabilities, and on weekends has worked with volunteer crews that clean up the city’s trails. She is the real deal. (Published in the “Daily Hampshire Gazette.”)

Rev. Dr. Peter B. Ives and Jenny Fleming-Ives: We cannot imagine a better qualified candidate to be the Mayor of Northampton. Gina-Louise has the heart, the skills, and the experience to lead the city during these challenging times.

(Watch their full endorsement video below.)

City Council President Alex Jarrett: For Mayor, I’m supporting Gina-Louise Sciarra. I’ve worked Gina-Louise Sciarra with her since she was our City Council President my first term, and the past two terms as Mayor. She is fair, cares deeply about the City and its residents, and has worked very hard to balance everyone’s needs in a very challenging budget situation. I think she’s the only candidate with the experience and perspective to lead us the next four years. (Published in the September 2025 edition of Councilor Jarrett’s newsletter.)

Fred Kass: I am honored to support GL as mayor and appreciate all she has done for our city. It’s not an easy job, and I appreciate her thoughtful care and deliberation as work to make Northampton a vibrant city for everyone.

Tsultrem Kunsang: As the former president of the Regional Tibetan Association of Massachusetts I have had the privilege of working closely with the Mayor and witnessing firsthand her unwavering commitment to our community. Despite her demanding schedule, she has always taken the time to support our cultural events and initiatives, showing genuine support and appreciation for our heritage. … Through her tireless efforts to promote inclusivity and fairness, Mayor Sciarra has made it clear that our voices matter and that our contribution to the fabric of this city are celebrated. From supporting small businesses and investing in local infrastructure to championing sustainability and social justice, she has shown a profound commitment to making Northampton a better place for all of us.

(Watch Tsultrem Kunsang’s remarks from Mayor Sciarra’s campaign kickoff event below.)

Patricia Lewis: GL is the mayor who cares about all of the people in this community, not only those who can vote. She supports the protection of those in danger from outside forces as well as those whose people of all ages whose lives can be made better by the kind of generous, caring government Gina-Louise Sciarra represents.

Javier Luengo-Garrido: The reason why we have an alternative to policing in this city is because this mayor committed herself to have the alternative that our neighbors didn’t have to call for nonviolent incidents not involving a gun in the middle … She has a plan. I’m supporting that plan and I’m going to be be there with her when she needs me.

(Watch Javier Luengo-Garrido’s remarks from the September 3 “Party for the Prelim” below.)

School Committee Member Margaret Miller: Not only does Mayor Sciarra have in-depth experience in managing this city, but she has vision and creative ideas. I applaud her management and she, and the previous mayor, have set up a system to ensure the schools are funded as much as possible every year.

Shannon Montanez, Chair, Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus PAC Board of Directors: The MWPC PAC is proud to endorse Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra for Mayor of Northampton. Mayor Sciarra is a driven leader who exemplifies the kind of people-first leadership that Northampton deserves. The MWPC PAC was honored to endorse Mayor Sciarra in her campaign for 2021 Northampton Mayor. Throughout her time serving on the Northampton City Council and as Northampton Mayor, she has consistently reflected our core values of representative leadership, reproductive freedom, and civil rights for all. Her genuine passion for public service makes Mayor Sciarra a candidate that MWPC is pleased to endorse.

Ward 1 City Councilor Stanley Moulton: After working with Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra as a city councilor during the past four years, I am excited to endorse her for a second term. With the support of the City Council, Mayor Sciarra has made an unprecedented investment in the Northampton Public Schools by adding $10.7 million to its budget, while establishing new citywide programs including the Division of Community Care and the Climate Action and Project Administration Department, and this year increasing Public Safety staff by eight firefighters and one dispatcher. I appreciated how Mayor Sciarra involved a cross-section of the community in financial decisions when I served on the advisory committee that recommended how to spend $4 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds to support some of the city’s most vulnerable citizens. Mayor Sciarra stands for visionary, compassionate and inclusive leadership and I enthusiastically support her reelection.

At Large City Councilor Garrick Perry: GL has this wonderful way of leadership that makes everyone feel like they are part of a family … Because we are an extended family. And not only does GL understand that, but she displays that every day. And as people know, families may disagree from time to time.  … With GL, I know there is someone who is going to bring our family together and work towards building what I think can be a better Northampton … I’m proud and thankful to consider GL as part of my family. I’m so glad she has decided to run again and continue bringing her passion, her expertise and more importantly her love for our city.

(Watch Councilor Perry’s remarks at Mayor Sciarra’s campaign kickoff event below.)

Joyce Rosenfeld: I feel so fortunate to have GL Sciarra as my mayor. An exquisite listener, a creative implementor, a compassionate administrator making the most of the precious resources available, and, passionate about mitigating the climate crisis which overarches all. Re-elect this wise woman.

(Watch Joyce Rosenfeld’s remarks from Mayor Sciarra’s campaign kickoff event below.)

Former City Councilor Pamela Schwartz: Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra demonstrated in the mayoral debate last week why she deserves our vote to continue leading our city. She is unparalleled in her expertise and understanding of our city’s needs with an extraordinary commitment to our community’s well-being. We are a city with a $145 million budget. From public education to police, fire, roads and bridges, senior services and more, she knows what it takes to stretch every dollar to meet critical demands that far outweigh our fiscal supply. One example among many: Northampton joins with communities across the state in battling the state’s chronic underfunding of our public schools. Mayor Sciarra has led the way in advocating for state-level change while devoting an ever-increasing portion of the city budget to our kids’ education. We need more. And our mayor is working with us and for us to get it. (Read Schwartz’s full letter in the “Daily Hampshire Gazette” and watch her endorsement video below.)

Sarah Smith: Since taking office in 2022, Mayor Sciarra has increased Northampton Public Schools funding by 32%. Her annual increases of at least 5% represent the largest sustained boost to the school budget in the past 50 years. These investments show her deep commitment to the city’s children, educators, and the long-term strength of our schools. She has also championed downtown revitalization, supporting community events like Summer on Strong and Taste of Northampton, and helping the Iron Horse reopen with federal pandemic relief (ARPA) funds — strengthening both our economy and cultural life. Her advancement of Picture Main Street reflects her understanding that a thriving downtown is essential to Northampton’s future. Sciarra has supported 282 new affordable housing units, expanded tax exemptions and abatements for income-eligible seniors and veterans, and used ARPA funds to address food insecurity, health care access, and housing and shelter services. (Read Smith’s full letter in the “Daily Hampshire Gazette.”)

Letitia Ward: I would love to support GL because she’s a hard working person. She’s very supportive of schools and LBGT and people with disabilities, and I know she’ll do a good job in our community.