Editor’s note: Jim Henry is one of the four candidates running for two At-Large City Council seats in the Nov. 5 Greenfield general election.
Address: 13 Pierce St.
Occupation (past/present): Organizer, Tom Steyer for president
Political experience: 25 years
How long have you lived in Greenfield? Moved here in 1972. Moved away in 2001, returned last year.
What qualities would you bring to the City Council? Although I am a progressive philosophically, I believe in working with people of all political persuasions to get things done.
Are you up-to-date on your property taxes? Have you ever been delinquent on your payments? I do not own property in Greenfield. Presently renting. I am up-to-date.
Which subcommittees would you be interested in serving on and why? I am particularly interested in finance and economic development. I served as a town administrator for area towns earlier in my career, and considering budgeting a strength.
Dissatisfied voters petitioned to put the library and safe city ordinance on the ballot. What does that say about the confidence voters have in the City Council to make decisions on their behalf? Given that a relatively small number of voters are required to challenge a City Council vote, I do not believe that these issues speak to a level of dissatisfaction with the City Council. Now, if these questions succeed, and the council votes are overturned, that would be a different story, but I predict the council votes will be upheld.
The city charter is expected to undergo revisions next year. What changes should be made, if any?
I do not believe change just for the sake of change is necessarily good. When I served on the Charter Review Commission, there were serious structural issues with the former form of government that was in place at the time. I would need to be persuaded that substantive changes would be justified, and I will say that anyone who wants to go back to a system like we had before, we would not be on the same page. No system is perfect, but this system is much better.