Framingham City Council Chair Giombetti Not Seeking Reelection

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Framingham's City Council Chairman Dennis Giombetti will not run for re-election. Giombetti confirmed on Tuesday that he was bowing out of the November election. Giombetti is now the fifth City Councilor to announce he will not run for re-election.

Giombetti served on the Board of Selectmen as the Chair before he was elected to the City Council as the Chair. He also served on Framingham's Charter Commission, Finance Committee and as a Town Meeting member. In the City Council Giombetti also serves on the Appointments and Economic Development subcommittees.

Looking back on his tenure as Council Chair Giombetti said "First I would like to thank my supporters for giving me an opportunity to serve in our new city government. It was always my intent to serve one term on the city council. My campaign for council was in part based on the platform to offer my experience and skills to help make for a smooth transition to a city form of government. I think the city council has made that transition, we have fulfilled our responsibility to be the checks and balance to the executive branch, and as important we as a new council have worked well together. As Chair I believe I had an influence on these positive aspects of the transition."

He said being part of the city's first City Council was a learning experience where he was able to witness plenty of 'firsts' for the new form of government, "The first City Council might best be described as 'building a new legislative branch," Giombetti said, reflecting on how he and the other councilors and mayor helped build the foundation for the new branch.

"I would be dishonest if I did not express my deep frustration with the council relationship with the Mayor. I sincerely hope that moving forward lessons are learned and what I call the key success factors of good governing the 3Cs, collaboration, communication and compromise become the hallmark of our government. Over the last several months of my term It will be one of my top priorities to continue to seek areas of collaboration in hopes that all parties will see the benefits of such activity and set the occasion for the next council to build upon those collaborative efforts," Giombetti said.

City Council Vice Chair Charles Sisitsky announced late last month, he would not seek re-election as well. Giombetti is also joined by Councilor-at-Large Cheryl Tully Stoll, District 2 Councilor Pam Richardson and District 9 City Councilor Edgardo Torres, who all announced they will not run.

New faces have already begun to pop-up as residents begin campaigns. On Tuesday, Janet Leombruno announced she would run for the Councilor-at-Large seat in the city.

Giombetti said while he may not be sitting in the council chair, he'll still stick around to help the community, "If I have a say, I am certainly not going away anytime soon. I will remain active in the community that I was born and raised, the community I have great love and passion for. It will just be in a role outside government rather than inside it. I know my wife, daughter and grandchildren will see a lot more of me. "