By CHRIS COLLINS
(Photo courtesy of Penny Ricketts)
(Greenfield, MA) — Greenfield’s city council is now under new leadership.
In something of a surprise move, the city council Monday night voted to elect former Vice President Penny Ricketts to the presidency by a single vote. Ricketts received 7 votes, one more than now-former President Ashli Stempel, who was also nominated.
The election was a moment of vindication for Ricketts, who had expected to assume the presidency last year after a two-year stint as VP but was defeated by Stempel in a contest many feel was decided largely on ideological lines. With the win, Ricketts becomes the first African-American president in Greenfield’s history.
“I’m really excited about this,” Ricketts said. “I’ve wanted this opportunity for a long time, and I think we’ve got a lot of important issues to tackle, like getting a deal for a new fire station in place.”
There will also be a new vice president for the next year. Precinct 6 Councilor Sheila Gilmour was elected to the vice presidency, succeeding Precinct 7 Councilor Otis Wheeler, who was nominated for the position but declined the post. Also nominated was At Large Councilor Phillip Elmer, who chose to decline, and Precinct 2 Councilor Dan Guin, who accepted the nomination but lost to Gilmour by a count of 7-6.
Precinct 3 Councilor Virginia Desorgheer was re-elected Council Treasurer, a position she has held for the past year.