Copyright MassLive
SPRINGFIELD — Voters selected Lavar Click-Bruce to fill the vacant Ward 5 seat in a special election in 2022 and returned him to the position in 2023. He is now hoping they will support his reelection bid against newcomer Edward Nunez. Click-Bruce, who also serves as a basketball coach, worked in the past as an aide to Mayor Domenic J. Sarno. He is chairman of the Council’s Public Safety Committee and has done a lot of work to make parks, schools and neighborhoods safer. Ahead of Tuesday, The Republican reached out to all candidates for the opposed City Council seats to answer a short questionnaire. Find more candidates and responses in the past week’s print editions or online at masslive.com/topic/election. Name: Lavar Click-Bruce Age: 47 Address: 13 Annie’s Way Profession: Hampden County Sheriff’s Department and incumbent Ward 5 city councilor Question 1. What is the biggest problem in the city and how would you address it? One of the biggest challenges in our city is public safety combined with economic opportunity. Too many neighborhoods still feel left behind, and we can’t have true progress without both safety and opportunity. I would continue advocating for stronger partnerships between law enforcement, youth organizations, and workforce programs to ensure we’re addressing the root causes of crime — poverty, lack of access and disconnection. At the same time, I’ll keep pushing for investments in our parks, schools and small businesses that help residents feel proud of where they live. Question 2. The City Council always struggles to keep taxes low, while providing needed services and making advancements. How specifically will you balance the three? It’s about smart budgeting and shared priorities. We have to protect taxpayers, while ensuring that essential services — like public safety, infrastructure and education — are fully supported. My focus is on efficiency and accountability: making sure every department is delivering results, pursuing grants and state and federal funding aggressively, and encouraging public-private partnerships to fund new initiatives without placing the burden on homeowners. Progress shouldn’t mean higher taxes — it should mean better use of the dollars we already have. Question 3. The housing crisis continues to take a toll on residents and those who want to move to the city. How should Springfield attack the problem? We need a comprehensive housing strategy that addresses both affordability and quality. That means incentivizing developers to build mixed-income housing, converting vacant lots and abandoned properties into homes, and strengthening our support for first-time homebuyers. I also believe we must protect longtime residents from being priced out through fair housing policies and targeted assistance for seniors and low- to moderate-income families. Housing stability is the foundation for safe, thriving neighborhoods. Question 4. What types of development would you like to attract to the city and how would you do it? We need a sports complex — a place where our young people can train, compete and grow, and where families can come together. A facility like that wouldn’t just serve our youth: It would bring tournaments, visitors, and real economic energy. I also want to keep attracting small businesses, housing opportunities and development that actually benefits our residents. To get there, we’ve got to continue showing that Springfield is a city on the move — a place worth building in and believing in.
