Published: 9/29/2021 7:08:33 PM
GREENFIELD — Resident Michael Terounzo recently announced his write-in candidacy for one of the vacant at-large seats on City Council in the Nov. 2 election.
“I ran for office in 2019,” Terounzo said in a statement. “Although ultimately unsuccessful, I was humbled by the amount of support and trust members of the community were willing to give me.”
Terounzo said he was approached by many members of the community over the summer, asking if he would consider running in the coming election.
“To be asked by so many folks, from different walks of life — conservative and liberal, blue collar to white — was really something. … I had not pulled papers, but after being requested to run by a myriad of people, even knowing it would be as a write-in candidate, I feel like it is the right thing to do.”
Of the seven seats open on City Council, there are currently no contested races and two seats with no candidates running. There are no candidates running for councilor of Precinct 9, currently occupied by Norman Hirschfeld, and no one on the ballot for an at-large councilor position currently held by Ashli Stempel-Rae. Both Hirschfeld and Stempel-Rae’s terms end this year.
On the ballot, however, is City Council President Penny Ricketts, running uncontested for one of the two seats for at-large councilors; Precinct 6 Councilor Sheila Gilmour, running uncontested for another four-year term; and Precinct 8 Councilor Douglas Mayo, running uncontested for another four-year term.
In the race for School Committee, five candidates are vying for three open seats.
Terounzo has multi-generational connections to this city and community, where he is currently raising two young children that will grow up in the Greenfield school system, just as he did when his parents raised him here.
“I am not going anywhere,” he said. “I believe in the strength of this community, and strive to make it the best possible for not only my children, but for all of the children here to grow up in.”
Terounzo said he believes that by continuing to invest in education, Greenfield residents have the ability to create a more engaged and thriving community.
Following the death of his father in 2013, Terounzo left his position at the Registry of Motor Vehicles to continue the business that his father had built from the ground up.
“I was taught about perseverance and adaptability at an early age,” Terounzo said, referring to when his father’s 26-year career at the paper mill was ended by the division moving to Michigan, and he successfully started his own landscaping company.
“Sometimes things out of your control happen, and you have to endure and sometimes flip the switch,” he said. “We may not know some of the problems or concerns that will face us as a city going forward, but we can take steps to shape our community in the best possible way with the things we do know.”
Speaking of his desire to be more involved in city government, Terounzo said there is “something wonderful” about being able to give back to the community he grew up in.
“Though I am no longer engaged in direct public service in my profession, being a member of City Council would be a spectacular opportunity to give back again in a different way,” he said.
Terounzo believes his pragmatism, critical thinking and the ability to compromise will be strong assets to City Council.
“I’ve been told that I’m stubborn,” he joked, “and that is true. I believe it’s important to say what you think, but I have an equally strong conviction that you have a duty to listen to others’ ideas. A constructive dialogue allows you to not only understand their position, but to shape yours to be more complete as well.”
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