Councilor Lisi announces candidacy for re-election

from The Sun

April 24-30, 2009

Holyoke - After a successful first year serving the City of Holyoke as an at-large city councilor, Rebecca Lisi took out nomination papers for her re-election campaign for the position. , Councilor Lisi is committed to continuing to represent the diverse needs of the people and neighborhoods throughout the city with a strong and independent voice.

“I’ve worked very hard in this first term to learn about the different issues that have come through the Council and I have considered it my responsibility to publicly share that information with Holyoke residents, so that they can make educated decisions about how they would like to be represented on those issues,” said Lisi.

As in her last two runs for office, Councilor Lisi plans to pursue an extensive door-to-door campaign because she believes that good government requires reaching out and listening to the specific needs and concerns Holyoke residents. For several years, Lisi worked as a policy advocate and community organizer with Clean Water Action and understands that citizens need to be engaged in the democratic process for government to function efficiently and effectively. She is passionate about politics and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Councilor Lisi is excited about the upcoming campaign season and is energized by the number of new and young candidates who are following her lead and finding local politics a valuable way to make positive changes in the quality of life for residents throughout the city. She hopes that as a new generation of Holyokers begins to take leadership in city government and work together with new ideas and guidance from seasoned mentors, real progress can be made toward revitalizing the city.

Lisi commented, “Holyoke’s future success rests on our ability to come together as a community and share our ideas, resources, and skills. As a founding member of c.r.u.s.h. (Citizens for the Revitalization and Urban Success of Holyoke) I have seen that we in fact have that capacity and I am confident that we are already on the right path”.

Councilor Lisi will be discussing more of her platform at her upcoming campaign kick-off event on May 27 at the Bungalow at the waterfront Tavern The Delaney House. For more information about the campaign and opportunities to get involved, visit www.votelisi.com.

Rebecca Lisi announces candidacy for At-Large City Council seat

from The Sun, April 6, 2007:

HOLYOKE- Rebecca Lisi of 25 Reservation Rd. took out papers this week to run for an At-Large City Council seat. Lisi, who has lived in Holyoke since 2004, ran for Ward 7 City Council in 2005 and lost only marginally to Councilor Jay O’Neill. “When campaigning for the Ward 7 seat, many Holyoke citizens told me that the issues I want to take on are more appropriate for an At-Large Councilor. I am running with that momentum this year,” said Lisi.

Lisi will again focus on revitalizing the downtown as part of her campaign platform. She believes that Smart Growth strategies can help improve the quality of life throughout Holyoke by establishing clear and predictable avenues for economic development. Smart Growth concentrates urban redevelopment to compact areas downtown, where the infrastructure already exists, preserving our natural environment, and utilizing our community diversity.

Lisi works as a political organizer for Clean Water Action. She helps develop grassroots campaigns to protect public health and the environment. This past year she successfully led the organization’s endorsement efforts for Deval Patrick’s campaign for Governor. For her own 2005 campaign and also for Patrick’s, she knocked on many doors in the city and will continue to do so for this At-Large campaign. Lisi said, “Canvassing is really important to any political campaign. It’s where I get to listen and engage with the real issues and concerns of the people who live here”.

Rebecca Lisi is also very involved in many community organizations in Holyoke. She teaches yoga classes at the Holyoke YMCA. Lisi has volunteered with the Holyoke Youth Task Force since 2005 and recently took the position of Chair to the newly formed Advocacy Committee. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Nueva Esperanza.

Lisi said, “Holyoke is a special place and I’ve met so many people working hard to overcome the challenges we have to deal with here. I’d like to be in a position where I can support these efforts and help make the city safer and more vibrant”.