A longtime member of the Haverhill School Committee says he can do more for residents if he is elected to a city council seat.
As reported by WHAV last week, School Committeeman Joseph J. Bevilacqua took out nomination papers from the city clerk’s office—entering a growing field of city council candidates. Bevilacqua, who is in the middle of his fourth, four-year term as a school committee member, told WHAV a run for city council would be an opportunity for him to “give back more to the city.”
“I’ve been a school committee member for a number of years. I’ve had the privilege of representing the citizens of the city of Haverhill and the school committee. I think I can do more for the city of Haverhill and I have simply, at the urging of people throughout the city of Haverhill, have taken out papers for the city council,” Bevilacqua said.
He formerly served as the city’s planning and economic development director and is currently president and CEO of the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce. Bevilacqua is also a director at Haverhill Bank and previously served as a trustee of Northern Essex Community College for 10 years.
Former councilor David E. Hall also recently took out papers. Former council President Michael J. Hart has already returned completed papers, as has a newcomer, Andy Vargas.
Others who have returned nomination papers for city council include incumbents William J. Macek, Michael S. McGonagle, Melinda E. Barrett and William H. Ryan; former councilor Kenneth E. Quimby Jr.; and newcomers Fred A. Simmons and Katrina Everett.