A Year in Review

Daily Hampshire Gazette: A year in office: Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle looks back — and forward

Bringing more transparency to municipal government. Investing in education in the city. Engaging more residents in a dialogue about everything from fixing potholes to creating affordable housing for seniors.

As a candidate, Nicole LaChapelle campaigned on making the mayor’s office more accessible to the public. A year out from her 2017 win as mayor, the Gazette checked in with LaChapelle to find out whether she feels she has fulfilled those promises.

“I have made tremendous progress towards those goals,” LaChapelle said in a recent interview, adding that her work is not done. “But, it’s not static.” …

… In person, LaChapelle comes across as thoughtful and inquisitive, often asking herself questions aloud. Asked why she wanted to run for mayor of Easthampton in the first place, she answered with another question she says she often asks herself: “What can government do?”

She decided to find out. Her decision to run for mayor in 2017 was based on a desire to help residents be more engaged with their local government. Residents had told her they felt barriers to participating in committees or running for office themselves.

“There seemed to be a lack of awareness on how to get involved with city government,” LaChapelle said. “It was a blind spot for way too many residents.”