I’ve spent some time over the past couple of weeks chasing down various rumors about potential City Council candidates. One of the more promising ones: that former Councilor Jose Tosado is considering another run.
“ Yes, I am very much giving serious consideration to running for an at-large seat on the City Council (much to my own amazement),” Tosado told me in response, via email. “I have always considered myself to be a thoughtful public official and one who not only actually listens to the residents of Springfield but also considers the social/economic ramifications of public policy decisions. With the real possibility of a casino in Springfield and all the City elected officials gushing and foaming at the month at possible revenues, we need leadership that focuses on addressing and holding casino operators responsible and responsive to develop safeguards and interventions for any maladaptive social outcomes. As someone who manages multi million dollar budgets of public mental health services I believe I have the base of knowledge, experience and common sense that may prove of value in City government today.”
Tosado first joined the Council in 2002, as a mid-term appointment for veteran Councilor Brian Santaniello, who left to become secretary of the city’s Election Commission. He retained his seat in 2003—when he became the first Hispanic elected to the Council—and stayed until 2011, when he opted to run for mayor against Domenic Sarno. That was not Tosado’s finest political moment; he won just 28 percent of the vote to Sarno’s 72 percent. Still, if he does opt to run for City Council again—and his statement sure makes it sound like he will, doesn’t it?—he’ll be a formidable candidate; Tosado was a popular city councilor who consistently turned up at or near the top of the election results.
Click here for a report by the Republican’s Pete Goonan about who recently took out nomination papers for this fall’s election.
In other news, the Forest Park Civic Association will hold its annual meeting this Sunday, April 7. (The meeting, which includes a potluck dinner, was rescheduled after an earlier date was snowed out.) Superintendent of Schools Danny Warwick will be the guest speaker. The group will also elect a new board and vote on its bylaws.
The meeting, which is open to all residents of Forest Park, will run from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Sumner Avenue School, with the official business beginning at 5 p.m. For more information, check out the group’s website.
