Narkewicz, and former City Council President Michael Bardsley, are both candidates for mayor.
Mary Clare Higgins, seen here last month announcing that she would not seek reelection as mayor of Northampton, announced Wednesday that she will step down in September, paving the way for City Council President David Narkewicz, who is also a candidate for mayor, to take over temporarily as acting mayor.NORTHAMPTON – Mayor Mary Clare Higgins plans to leave City Hall to direct a human services agency in September, leaving Council President and mayoral candidate David J. Narkewicz as acting mayor.
In a prepared statement issued Wedneday, Higgins announced that she has been named Executive Director of Community Action of the Franklin, Hampshire and North Quabbin Regions, effective Sept. 12.
Her last day in office will be Sept. 9.
After that, Narkewicz, who is facing former Council President and Higgins’ rival Michael A. Bardsley in the November election, will assume the duties of mayor.
Higgins announced last month that she would not be seeking a seventh term as mayor. She gave no indication that she might step down early.
But she also made it clear she would not be supporting Bardsley's candidacy. At that time Narkewicz had not declared his candidacy.
More details coming in The Republican.