Lisa Fusco, a former part-owner of Northampton Airport, said she will not be a candidate after all.
NORTHAMPTON – With eight days left to take out papers, there is a two-way race stacking up for the vacant Ward 3 city council seat in the August 2 special election.
According to City Clerk Wendy A. Mazza, Owen D. Freeman-Daniels of 53 Woodmont Road and Arnold Levinson of 14 Hancock St. have taken out nomination papers to date. With a May 10 deadline, the window of opportunity is closing fast for other would-be candidates. Lisa Fusco, who had previously announced her intention to run for the seat, said Monday she is no longer a candidate.
Angela D. PlassmannThe seat became vacant last month when Angela D. Plassmann, a first-term councilor, abruptly announced her resignation. Plassmann said on her Web site that she was being harassed by an unnamed city department head for political reasons. She declined to name that person, however, or elaborate on the alleged harassment.
It subsequently came to light that the Planning Department had asked the Building Commissioner to investigate complaints that Plassmann had an illegal structure on her property. According to Building Commissioner Louis Hasbrouck, the building in question appeared to be a “manufactured home” that violated city zoning ordinances. Plassmann’s mother was reportedly living in the home. Before Hasbrouck could investigate further, the structure was removed from the property.
Plassmann retained a lawyer who has demanded to know the names of the complainants, maintaining that Plassmann has the right to confront her “accusers.” The city has responded that people who complaint about zoning violations are, by policy, allowed to remain anonymous. Plassmann has threatened legal action against the city.
Fusco, formerly a part-owner of Northampton Airport, said Monday that she is trying to sort out her business affairs. She and business partner Michael Vito recently closed the restaurant half of Venus & the Cellar Bar in Easthampton. The bar-restaurant opened in June of 2009, but the recent harsh winter and other factors contributed to financial problems, according to Fusco.
“I gave a lot of thought (to the election) and decided the timing is not right,” she said.
Fusco, who owns the building, said she will keep the Cellar Bar open as the sole proprietor. She sold her share in the Northampton Airport in an effort to compensate for losses at the restaurant. Fusco said she wants to make the popular Cellar Bar into more of a music venue.
Freeman-Daniels is the vice president of the Ward 3 Neighborhood Association. He was actively involved in organizing the community in the wake of the December, 2009, rash of fires, one of which took the lives of two Ward 3 residents. Anthony P. Baye, who lived in the ward, is facing murder and arson charges in connection with those fires.
Levinson, a retired orthodontist, has lived in Ward 3 for 15 years. On his Web page, Levinson calls the ward’s mix of gardens and large farms “unique,” and says he will work towards preserving the city’s historical and natural features for future generations.