Domenic J. Sarno wears his heart on his sleeve and carries photographs of both his daughters, Cassandra, nine, and Chiarina, seven, in his breast pocket. He is a dapper dresser, a man who values courtesy and remembers people's names. He works long hours on behalf of the city he loves, not just as a city councilor for Springfield but also as executive director of the South End Community Center.
He's running for mayor against Charlie Ryan, an incumbent who is just as warm and holds as much burning dedication to his family and city.
Ryan, 79, has been a faithful steward for Springfield, helping it recover from years of neglect and corruption. Sarno, 43, wants the torch to be passed; he has his own ideas about how to get the city's economy moving forward, and it doesn't include the governor-appointed Finance Control Board that Mayor Ryan supports. "I'm not running for a seat on the Finance Control Board," Sarno says, referring to the mayor's status as a member of the board.
The mayoral election may be a tough choice for many city voters, because both men clearly have the city's best interests at heart. It's how they want to navigate the city toward a bright sunrise that separates them.
The political season is already supercharged, thanks to a complaint filed this month by eight City Hall employees with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. The complaint states that their race and ethnic origin played a factor in salary, promotions and other conditions of employment.
Ryan's reaction was genuine surprise. He did not know that these employees had been allegedly facing troubles due to their race and ethnic origin. Very reasonably, he said he could not know about any acts of racism unless he is informed of them. If he is informed of them, he can then take action.
Sarno sees the suit as confirmation that City Hall is indifferent to the diversity of the city of 150,000.
I've met many politicians through the years, and Charlie Ryan strikes me as a sincere and courageous man, not a smarmy politico. He has led where others could not think of an idea. He tries to resolve budgetary issues; he publicly mourns the victims of crime; he shows up everywhere to shake hands, listen to citizen complaints with heartfelt interest and support high achievers from high school students to adults, with enthusiasm.
Sarno is no different. Messages pile up on his desk rapidly (he shows a bulging address book with dozens of small pieces of paper attached to it: "This is my Palm Pilot," he says), he is invited to attend countless meetings; and he listens to similar stories of property owner angst with keen intensity. He has ideas about what he wants the city to become and promises to surround himself with people who are experts to get the job done. But the final decisions will be his.
"I'm not afraid to shake things up," he said. "Every week I'll be asking, 'what are we doing right and what are we doing wrong?' I'm hands-on. I'm not insulated. I roll up my sleeves. I have to be a champion for the city."
This mayoral election isn't so much between men of different generations or ideas as much as between two tireless men who are proud to step up to the plate, no matter the score.
Natalia Muñoz is the editor of La Prensa del oeste de Massachusetts. www.laprensama.com
