Política / Politics
El Sol Latino April 2021
15
Delmarina López Announces Run for Chicopee Ward 3 Councilor CHICOPEE, MA | PRESS RELEASE | March 22, 2021 - Attorney Delmarina López announced that she is running for Chicopee Ward 3 City Council. “I believe in local politics,” said Lopez. “As a resident, I believe that real, meaningful change occurs at a local level and that people deserve an advocate that not only understands their needs but that they are able to see themselves in. This isn’t a title, it’s a great responsibility that I do not take lightly. I embody what it is to be from Chicopee and I am committed to hearing the concerns of my fellow residents doing my part to support the betterment of Ward 3 and the City of Chicopee.” López, 25, is a graduate of the Chicopee Public Schools, and native of Puerto Rico. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Bay Path University and a Juris Doctor from Western New England University School of Law. López’s deep commitment to her community and her fervent passion for social justice and women’s rights led her to pursue a Juris Doctor at Western New England University School of Law where she made it her personal mission to ensure that her passion for Public Interest Law and serving her local community always remained at the forefront. During her time at WNEU Law, she was Co-President of the WNEU National Lawyers’
Guild, an Associate Justice of the Judicial Advisory Board, and took part in both the Criminal Defense Practicum and in the Immigration/Legal Aid Clinic. Her civic engagement and social justice background include becoming the youngest person to serve as an intern at the Governor of Massachusetts’ Western Mass. Regional Office under the Deval Patrick’s administration at the age of 16. Subsequently, she was a Legal Assistant and Law Clerk at the Secretary of State’s Western Mass Office from 2018 to 2021. Committed to equity and social justice, Lopez has served in a volunteer capacity on several political campaigns, as well as being the Campaign Coordinator for the Committee to Elect Anthony Soto for Holyoke Mayor, in the year 2015. At Bay Path University, she served the student body as president of the Student Government Association, Council Member of the Diversity and Inclusion Community Council, and Founding Executive Committee Member of A.L.A.N.A. Leaders. Currently, she works as Lead Counsel on Habeas Corpus Cases at a Connecticut law firm. She also serves as a Board Member on the Board of Directors of the YWCA of Springfield.
Darlene Reina Announces Election Bid for Chicopee City Council’s 3rd Ward CHICOPEE, MA | PRESS RELEASE | March 29, 2021 - Darlene Reina, 29, is running for Chicopee City Council, Ward 3. If elected she would be the first person of color and the first woman in 15 years elected to city wide office in Chicopee. She stated: “As City Councilor, my job will be to make sure the community’s ideas are listened to and uplifted. My job is to amplify the voices and needs of Ward 3 residents throughout all levels of City Government”. As a homeowner, Darlene chose Chicopee as her home and has a strong connection to the city and a passion for serving the community. Darlene Reina is a first-time candidate running for the Ward 3 Chicopee City Council seat. Darlene is a bilingual first-generation American Latina. Her professional experience ranges from working for large tech companies to public higher education, including Greenfield Community College, in information technology. This past year, she volunteered on Adam Gomez’s successful state senate campaign and helped new voters register for the 2020 election. For seven years she volunteered at RIOT RI (FKA Girls Rock! RI), a nonprofit organization that empowers youth through music. She was the youngest person ever to be elected to the Board of Directors and went on to serve as Chair of the Board. She currently serves on The Caucus Advisory Council for the Girls Rock Camp Alliance, an international membership network of youth-centered arts and social justice organizations. Chicopee is home to innovation and creativity; Darlene is committed to investing city resources into community-centric projects. As a City Councilor, it will be her priority to lower barriers to civic participation to ensure that Chicopee residents are empowered within local government. Organizing with fellow Chicopeans this past year, Darlene pushed for the current city council
to establish a charter review commission to allow residents to have a larger voice in how their city operates and empower residents to hold their officials accountable. In her conversations with residents, many have pointed out the need to better communicate around city projects, and better coordination within municipal departments. By leveraging her professional experience, Darlene has the skills to build better channels of communication and knows how to work with multiple stakeholders with competing priorities. Leveraging her experience with empowering youth, Darlene will push to make our city more accessible to the youth of Chicopee, by centering their experiences in civic decisions, partnering with local educators and making sure their voices are heard in City Hall. Darlene is committed to helping Chicopee thrive. Chicopee has many strengths, from the growing farmers’ markets to the thriving arts scene and trusted local businesses. However, there is also much work to be done. Darlene has the experience and is ready to do the work required to represent Ward 3 with honor and integrity. The Primary Election will be held on September 21, 2021 and the General Election will follow on November 2, 2021. Ward 3 polling place is Stefanik Memorial Elementary School located at 720 Meadow Street Chicopee, MA. To register to vote please visit https://www.chicopeema.gov/358/Register-toVote. Deadline to Register: September 1, 2021 for the Primary and October 13, 2021 for the Municipal Election. For more information on Darlene Reina and her campaign to represent Chicopee’s Ward 3 please visit www.ElectDarlene.com or https://www. facebook.com/ElectDarlene.
