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With municipal elections looming in the fall, North Adams, Massachusetts Mayor Tom Bernard tells WAMC he will not seek a third two-year term. One day after delivering his annual state of the city address, Bernard explained to WAMC why he’s stepping aside after four years leading the city of around 13,000.
BERNARD: The biggest one is the feeling that we have really important work ahead of us as a city over this year. You know, it s work, as I said in the State of the City last night, that didn t get as didn t get done as deeply as I certainly had wanted to going into 2020. And I want to be able to put my full time and attention into, you know, addressing the challenges with infrastructure, addressing our capital needs, addressing our budget challenges, addressing, you know, the on the ongoing and the continuing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, which will be with us and will continue to be with us for the next several months.
North Adams Mayor Tom Bernard announced today he will not seek re-election. Elected Mayor in November of 2017 he started his first of two terms in January
NORTH ADAMS â City Councilor Jason LaForest says he is exploring a run for mayor, after an announcement from current North Adams Mayor Tom Bernard that he will not seek a third term.
LaForest, who first was elected in 2017 and is serving his second year as the councilâs vice president, told The Eagle it is âalmost certainâ that he will pull papers to run in April.
Though LaForest confirmed his plans with local reporters Tuesday, he said he had been considering the run since before Bernardâs announcement and has received a positive response so far.
âNorth Adams truly needs broad, transparent leadership,â he said. âThat reflects who we are as a community, where we have been and where we need to go together, against the backdrop of tight finances.â
In a year without easy answers, North Adams Mayor Tom Bernard was grateful for you berkshireeagle.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from berkshireeagle.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
BUSINESS MONDAY: One mile at a time
Many groups are working together for better transportation options in and to the Berkshires.
It’s no secret that it can be challenging to get to, and around, the Berkshires.
If you don’t own a car, getting from Point A to Point B can be time-consuming. Agencies like Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA), the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), and local Councils on Aging help plug some of these gaps, but the region’s size and geography continue to present obstacles.
Transportation into and out of the Berkshires is even more lacking. The region recently lost daily rail service to Boston and Albany when Amtrak changed the schedule of the Lake Shore Limited train to a tri-weekly service. Although Berkshire residents still enjoy bus service, bus and rail service to the area is often slower than driving yourself, and can be unreliable. Despite the less-than-rosy current picture, recent years have seen forward progress and we have go