Press Releases

For Immediate Release: May 20, 2025

For More Information: Campaign Chair Jendieringer@gmail.com

NORTHAMPTON -- Ward 3 City Council candidate Laurie Loisel has cleared the hurdle ensuring her name will be on the ballot in the upcoming municipal election, the first Ward 3 candidate to do so. Loisel submitted nomination papers signed by Ward 3 residents to the Northampton City Clerk on Tuesday, May 13 and this week, CIty Clerk Pamela Powers confirmed that she validated 128 signatures. Candidates are required to obtain 50 signatures to qualify to be on the ballot.

“This is a grassroots campaign with widespread support and many of the volunteers for this campaign have lived or have roots in Ward 3 that go back decades,” said Campaign Chair Jennifer Dieringer. “We are excited to support a candidate with experience, maturity and the temperament to represent our ward, who will work to keep our city as strong as it can be amid turbulent political times.” Loisel, director of communication and community engagement for the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office since 2015, previously worked as a reporter and editor at the Daily Hampshire Gazette for 29 years. She moved to Northampton in 1983. Loisel announced her candidacy in January and held a campaign kickoff event at Click Workspace on Market Street on April 2 that drew 100 supporters. She has outlined a platform of strengthening Northampton to support its city services amid increasing assaults on vulnerable populations from the federal government.

“I believe we need to be united as a caring community, which means being fiscally and managerially strong. It’s crucial to have a functioning local government, whose leaders are realistic, thoughtful, and able to see the long term -- and who can work together to get things done,” she said. “ Governing is hard work, but I don’t think it has to be mean spirited. We may disagree, but if we can see the humanity in each other, we will have a good shot at keeping this city we love healthy and vibrant.”

Residents can find more information at the campaign website, electlaurieloisel.com, including information about opportunities to volunteer for the campaign. Over the next four months, Loisel plans to spend time knocking on doors in Ward 3, participating in house gatherings and meeting as many residents as possible in the lead up to the Sept. 16 preliminary election. A preliminary election for the seat will be held if there are more than 2 candidates for office. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 4.

For Immediate Release: January 27, 2025

For More Information: Campaign Chair Jendieringer@gmail.com

NORTHAMPTON— Group gearing up for Ward 3 race for City Council, a coalition of Ward 3 residents concerned about their representation in city government has established a committee supporting longtime Ward 3 resident Laurie Loisel in a bid for City Council.

Loisel, 64, has lived on Grant Avenue since 1992. She was a reporter and editor at the Daily Hampshire Gazette for 29 years. She is currently director of communication and community engagement for the Northwestern District Attorney’s office, where she has worked since 2015.

 Loisel served on the Northampton Human Rights Commission from 2015-2020 and has served as president and in other leadership roles at the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence. She said she decided to mount a bid for council after attending a meeting in which Ward 3 residents expressed their concerns about Ward 3 leadership on the council.

Ward 3 resident Mike Goggins joined the committee and said he is thrilled to support the candidacy of Loisel. “I’ve known Laurie for 30 years, from back when she was a young reporter and I was an assistant district attorney,” said Goggins, now a retired district court judge. “She has a wealth of skills and life experiences to bring to this important public service position. She is smart, hardworking and fearless, and yes, from experience I can assure you she will ask all the tough questions, but will do so in a thoughtful and respectful manner.”


Kelsey Flynn, also of Ward 3, said Loisel’s decades as a journalist in the city mean she brings a unique and valued skill set to the job. “She’s had a ringside seat to how municipal government works. She’s also an easy person to talk to, making people feel welcome to share, no matter their perspective,” said Flynn. 

“I have lived in Northampton and loved this city since I first moved here in 1983. I feel motivated now to work hard to keep our local government functioning smoothly in part because I am worried about the threats a second Trump presidency will mean to people who are the most vulnerable among us,” said Loisel. “When we work together as a community, we can mitigate those threats.” 

Ward 3 resident Jen Dieringer is serving as chair of the Loisel for Ward 3 Committee and Jennifer Nery has signed on as campaign treasurer.