Dear Northampton -

Waking up this morning and realizing my day wouldn’t include knocking doors and meeting neighbors was tough. But then I remembered the community we’ve built together. I am awed and inspired by the strength, intelligence, and joy in this city. I am so grateful to the people of Northampton for allowing me to lead in this way, for all of you that placed your hopes into the vision we built together throughout this campaign.

When I announced my run for mayor, I led with a quote: “Being a leader doesn’t mean that you have followers, it just means you go first.” I set out on this campaign to do things differently. I wanted to inspire others with the power of curiosity, quiet listening, and steadfast belief in the capacity of this community to take care of one another.

With your help, we did it.

We changed what running for office means in this city - you don’t have to make promises you can't keep, but you do have to listen, understand, and promise to put your best foot forward.

I want to congratulate Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra on her win. Being in office is hard. Running for a second term is even harder. This work is not for the faint of heart, and she met the challenge. When we spoke yesterday, we both agreed to keep the conversation going. I'm looking forward to sharing what I've learned from the community and discussing how we can find ways to bring people together and ensure all voices are heard.

I also shared with her that I would not seek a recount. As Henri says, “I am proud of you, Mama, even though you lost.”

We lost, but we also won. This has been an historic election in Northampton. Though our city remains divided on many vital issues, we have a largely new city council and school committee. It is my sincere wish that after a period of rest and reflection, we can begin the work of healing our differences and working toward common goals.

Our hope and momentum rely on staying engaged and connected - we need all hands on deck. Continue to reach out to your electeds, attend public meetings, and engage with each other so that, together, we can heal, move forward, and build the future we want to see.

Thank you all. What a gift it has been to listen and learn from you.

Onwards and upwards -

Jillian

Strengthening Foundations First

Our City needs to rise to meet this moment, where investments in our core public services are vital to keeping us safe and resilient. Sidewalks are for humans of all ages and abilities; flourishing small businesses keep resources local; schools that don’t have to fight for the bare-minimum create a web of support for families in need and our community as a whole.

As a single mom, I know how to prioritize–my time, my money, my relationships. I know that by investing in our foundations first and planning strategically for the rest - we can meet the diverse needs and wants of this community.

Transparency and Accountability Matter

Trust is not only the bedrock of our social contract, but the key to developing strong partnerships. For too many in Northampton, trust in City leaders has been waning. 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.

During my time as the leader of the Downtown Northampton Association, I learned how critical transparency is to preserving trust with the community one serves and how successful we can be at solving problems in real time when leaders empower those doing the work to come to the table. I want to be thoughtful about how we communicate to the community, making sure they feel their experience and expertise is welcome in the conversation.

Meaningful Investments in Public Education

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

This is why I want to bring my collaborative leadership style to this core challenge, helping our community figure out how, not if, we can bring together the resources and ideas needed to make Northampton schools thrive.

I am the product of public schools. I am who I am today because of teachers who invested their time, energy and love into me - providing the strong foundation I needed to overcome family challenges that would have turned me into just another statistic. This issue hits home for me.

Supporting Small Businesses to Thrive

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.

When I talk to business owners, many of whom took out loans to keep their businesses alive through the pandemic, I hear a lot of apprehension about their ability to survive any more bumps in the road.