Keane has held the Ward 3 seat since January 2008, but said he wanted to spend more time with his family.
Holyoke Ward 3 City Councilor Anthony M. KeaneHOLYOKE – Ward 3 City Councilor Anthony M. Keane said Monday he won’t run for reelection in the fall.
The announcement from Keane, who has held the seat since January 2008, came with incumbents and challengers facing Tuesday’s 4:30 p.m. deadline to file nomination papers to seek city offices.
“Although I can think of many reasons to seek the seat once more, I have one very important reason not to: a beautiful baby girl. My wife and I welcomed a new daughter on March 13 and it’s been nothing short of wonderful being a new parent. I want to be at home with her as she grows,” Keane said in a prepared statement.
Keane said he made the decision against seeking reelection after long and careful consideration. The decision followed months of speculation about his plans.
Two residents have taken out nomination papers for potential bids for the Ward 3 council seat: Richard P. Purcell, of 99 Martin St., and David K. Bartley, of 25 Hillcrest Ave., son of David M. Bartley, former speaker of the state House of Representatives and former president of Holyoke Community College.
Keane, a lawyer and co-owner of the Dam Cafe on Northampton Street, said it was time to move on.
Many positive things are happening in the city, he said, including the library expansion, a new Senior Center, renovation of the Victory Theater, pending construction of the high performance computing center and a Big Y supermarket and the Mountain Park music venue.
“Much of this has passed with theimprimatur of the City Council,” Keane said.
Still, he said, City Council Chambers in City Hall is not quick, easy or clean.
“And the politics can be downright smarmy. Often times, issues which appear timely and relevant can be buried while less pressing matters are pushed to the forefront,” he said.
Residents of Ward 3, and elsewhere in the city, want safe neighborhoods, efficient city services and reasonable taxation, he said.
“When I first ran for office, I described government as a referee during a sporting event. We all like to know the ref is there, but no one likes it when they take over the game.
“There’s great potential in this city; sometimes we just have to do a better job with the whistle,” Keane said.
Keane joins Diosdado Lopez, Ward 2, Timothy W. Purington, Ward 4, as City Council incumbents who aren’t running for reelection.