Jillian Duclos

Nonpartisan

As Mayor, I will be committed to accountability and transparency to restore trust with taxpayers, public employees, and local businesses - because I know that we are only as strong as the relationships we build with one another both at home and beyond.

High-quality education is a collective responsibility. I will foster proactive and consistent engagement with parents, educators, students, and the wider community to understand their educational needs and priorities. This collaborative approach will ensure that our educational policies and investments are truly responsive to the community's vision for its schools.

Small businesses have shaped the identity of this community, from live music and local art to eclectic food and clothing.

They are resilient and innovative, but need the City to be a true partner with them. This means that if we move forward with the Picture Main Street Project, we absolutely must do it in a way that ensures our small business community will be here when we’re done.

Budgets are moral documents that must combine logical predictions and real life consequences, while negotiating through competing priorities–balancing both social and fiscal responsibility.

My budget approval process will specifically focus on first identifying and securing the necessary funding for the annual operating expenses, followed by the allocation for capital projects, utilizing mechanisms like free cash, reserve funds, or municipal bonds where appropriate. This disciplined approach guarantees that critical services, such as public education, will receive the necessary appropriations without being made contingent on capital project funding.

The Mayor has a pivotal role in ensuring Northampton’s two school districts are meeting the needs of our young people and the future needs of our community.