Mayor Domenic Sarno said he's too busy to debate. Challenger Sal Circosta has tried to make that an issue.
Many voters will head to the polls November 3 for local elections. There are tight races for mayor in some area cities. That doesn't appear to be the case in Springfield, where eight-year incumbent DomenicSarno is being challenged by Sal Circosta, a relative political newcomer.
While driving around Springfield last week on, I admit, a completely unscientific survey of political activity, I came across some neighborhoods that were almost absent of campaign lawn signs, while others were littered with them.
"Being on a main drag, I get calls every day. I could have everybody's sign. It would look like a polling place here," said Maryann Hoar.
Among the signs on her front lawn was one for Domenic Sarno.
"I think he's… brought a lot of initiatives to the city and I think that we're headed in the right direction," Hoar said.
Hoar described the mayor's opponent, Sal Circosta, as a nice man.
"He's been at my door, and I've talked to him. I just don't think he has the experience that Sarno brings to the table," said Hoar.
But experience is relative, countered Circosta, who turned 30 in August.
Circosta is a member of the city's community police hearing board. He said his breadth of experience, from education to military service and work in the private sector, qualifies him to be mayor.
"I know what it's like to put a pair of jeans on and construction boots and apply shingles to a roof," said Circosta. "My opponent does not. Am I a polished politician? Absolutely not. I don't think the people of Springfield need a polished politician. We're in the mess we're in right now because of politicians."
Sarno took 77 percent of the vote to win September's preliminary election, while Circosta came in second with about eight percent. It goes without saying that Circosta has his work cut out if he's to upend a popular incumbent.
"I would tell him to get a little busier…knock on doors, take your message to the people," said city councilor Bud Williams, who unsuccessfully ran against Sarno in the 2009 mayoral election. "And you have to have the ability to raise money and then use that money to get your message out. And if you can't get your message out at the end of the day, you'll get drowned out."
With about two weeks to go in the campaign, Sarno reported having about $58,000 in the bank, while Circosta reported just over $1,000.
During this election season, Sarno has made it a point not to participate in any debate or forum, claiming his schedule is too busy and that debates are not part of his campaign strategy. Circosta has tried to make that an issue.
But political consultant Tony Cignoli said he should have been driving that point more.
"You can force debate. You can get out there in the media," Cignoli said. "It costs no money at all to put out a media release at least every two or three days. And you've got to do that when you're a challenger who doesn't have money. We're not seeing that."
Cignoli said Sarno has also used the power of incumbency to get his message out at community events throughout the city.
"When there are complaints in the neighborhoods, when folks aren't seeing activity, there's an opening to take out an incumbent," Cignoli said. "Here he seems to have dotted an awful lot of is and crossed a lot of ts. Can anything change between now and Election Day? Sure, you never know what is going to happen in a political campaign. But Sal Circosta would be pretty hard-pressed at this point to find that overriding issue that's going to make up the kind of numbers and the disparity of the vote that we saw in the primary."
But Sarno's margin then was based on a dismal voter turnout. Only seven percent of Springfield voters cast ballots.
Among those sitting out September's election was Nelly Viera. And walking into a grocery store last week, she told me she's still not tuned in.
"I guess I've been a really bad voter. I think I start really looking into it right beforehand. I haven't really made a decision. I'd rather be informed before selecting anyone," said Viera.
Circosta has just a few days left to convince voters like Viera why they should select him to lead Springfield for the next four years.
This story was originally published at NEPR.net.
