Press & Media

This story originally appeared on TheReminder.com
By G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

Feb. 22, 2012

HOLYOKE — City Councilor Aaron Vega said his run for the state representative seat currently occupied by Michael Kane isn’t about Kane’s record, but rather the future of Holyoke.

“It’s not about me. It’s not about Mike. It’s about where Holyoke is today,” Vega told Reminder Publications.

Vega officially announced his candidacy last week.

He said he is looking forward to a “healthy discussion” of issues with Kane during the campaign. Since both men are Democrats, the election will be decided in a primary conducted in September.

Vega, a Holyoke native who returned to the city to open a small business, Vega Yoga and Movement Arts, won a city council seat in 2009 and re-election last year.

During his announcement on Feb. 14, Vega said, “Holyoke is moving forward and we are living in a time of great opportunity. Having worked tirelessly for the past three years with a wide range of non-profits, business leaders, educators, planners, public safety officials and other individuals, I have a unique understanding of the challenges and potential facing my hometown today and what it will take at the state level to keep moving Holyoke forward.”

Noting the changes in the city politically and its development, he said, “I feel that right now the energy, momentum and spirit in Holyoke is really great.”

Vega said that if elected he would urge the state to look at successful programs at the municipal level on issues such as childhood obesity and better access to healthy food rather than seeking to establish and fund new program.

“We don’t need the state reinventing the wheel,” he said.

Vega noted that there are programs on the municipal level that are funded by state grants that disappear when the funding is gone. He would work to have a greater accountability to insure that successful programs are refunded.

There is a cycle, he noted, of organizations relying on continued allotment of Community Development Block Grants that he would like to challenge. Instead of “banking” on the funding, Vega would like to see more non-profit organizations build better relationships with private donors.

He believes there is a “disconnect” between the state and local cities and towns and he would work to “give municipalities more breathing room, especially around education.”

Like Mayor Alex Morse, Vega does not see a casino in the city as a viable part of its future economic development. A casino would go counter to the present efforts for the revitalization of neighborhoods and the high tech development of the city, he added.

“A casino would not help small business,” he said. “I applaud the mayor for sticking to his guns.

Kane told Reminder Publications that he will be formally announcing his re-election effort in the spring and right now he is focusing his efforts to finish the work the House is currently considering such as the next fiscal year budget and health care legislations.

For more information on Vega’s candidacy, go to http://vegaforholyoke.com.

This story originally appeared on Masslive.com

By Mike Plaisance, The Republican The Republican
February 14, 2012

HOLYOKE – City Councilor Aaron M. Vega kicked off his campaign for state representative by touting his experience as an elected official, a businessman and board member versed in school and other issues.

“The campaign mantra for me is this: It’s not about old Holyoke and it’s not about new Holyoke, it’s about one Holyoke and I want to represent one Holyoke,” Vega, a Democrat, said Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, he made official what he had said on MassLive.com Feb. 2, that he was challenging state Rep. Michael F. Kane, D-Holyoke in the fall election.

Vega, who is in his second term as a councilor at large, discussed his candidacy in a press conference at Holyoke Heritage State Park and later in a phone interview.

He was a member of the Morgan School turn-around team and sits on the City Council-School Committee subcommittee.

He is chairman of the council Redevelopment Committee and established a public comment period before City Council meetings.

He is a regular at meetings of the Holyoke Food & Fitness Policy Council, he said, so that when issues like obesity among people and funding for such programs are discussed, he knows the specifics.

Eyeing the Legislature makes sense because the city has a new mayor, in Alex B. Morse, and new City Council president, in Kevin A. Jourdain, he said.

“It all has to do with the new energy and the new momentum that’s happening here in Holyoke,” said Vega, 41.

He and wife Debra Vega own Vega Yoga and Movement Arts, 4 Open Square Way.

Vega declined to say why he thought he would be a better lawmaker for Holyoke than Kane.

“At this point, I won’t try to go, ‘Me vs. him, him vs. me.’ I think what I try to bring to the table is … a perspective on what’s going on in Holyoke today,” Vega said.

Kane has held the 5th Hampden District seat since 2001. He said earlier this month he will announce his re-election bid in the spring.

The representative’s yearly salary is $61,133.

The primary election is Sept. 6, to narrow the field of candidates if there is more than one from a party, and the general election is Nov. 6.

Holyoke councilor running for State Rep: wwlp.com

Vega to run for seat held by Rep. Michael Kane

February 14, 2012

Yoojin Cho

Anthony Fay

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – Holyoke City Councilor Aaron Vega announced Tuesday that he will be running for state representative this fall.

Vega, a Democrat, announced that he would be seeking the 5th Hampden District seat, which covers all of the City of Holyoke. Vega told 22News that he wants to do more for Holyoke, because he was born there.

Vega said he wants to make Holyoke streets safer and cleaner and bring more jobs to the city. “I want to bring what’s happening here in Holyoke all the way to Boston, so that when people are looking at Holyoke they have someone to talk to about all the positive things. And hopefully bring new people, new jobs, new ideas to our city,” Vega said.

To get to the Legislature, Vega would have to win a Democratic primary against incumbent State Rep. Michael Kane, a former city councilor himself who was served on Beacon Hill since 2001. Kane told 22News that he has taken out nomination papers with the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office, and will be making a formal re-election announcement in the spring.

“Right now, I am concentrating on the business of the Legislature: economic development, the budget, healthcare payment reform,” Kane said.

David Caputo of Holyoke was among the supporters that showed up for Vega’s announcement at Holyoke Heritage State Park Tuesday morning. He said that he is looking forward to seeing a primary. “I always think that a contest is good in politics so it’ll get all the candidates to put their positions out and get reinforcement from the voters either pro or con,” Caputo said.

The Democratic Primary will take place on Thursday, September 6.

Por  Lucila J. Santana, El Pueblo Latino

February 09, 2012

Esto es una historia que apareció originalmente en El Pueblo Latino

HOLYOKE – El asambleísta de la ciudad de Holyoke Aaron Vega estará llevando su carrera política a un nivel estatal. Este martes 14 de febrero, Vega anunciará oficialmente su candidatura para representante estatal.

“Yo se que tememos un gran momento, una energía y un espíritu aquí, en Holyoke y estoy listo para llevar esa energía a Beacon Hill,” dice Vega en una declaración publicada en su página oficial ww.vegaforholyoke.com

Vega, quien correrá por el partido demócrata, ha sido asambleísta en Holyoke durante los últimos dos términos electorales.

Actualmetente la posición de representante estatal para el distrito D-Holyoke del condado de Hampden está ocupada por el veterano Michael F. Kane, quien tiene la posición desde el año 2001. Kane se postulará para reelección, según anunció al diario The Republican.

En una entrevista telefónica desde Nueva York con El Pueblo Latino, Vega dijo que su postulación llega como una necesidad de “mantener el proceso democrático vivo, es importante que las personas tengan opciones.” Hasta antes de su anuncio, Kane hubiese corrido sin contrincantes. Vega se encontraba en la gran manzana trabajando en un documental, siendo editor cineasta.

Vega, hijo del activista Carlos Vega, nació y se crió en Holyoke, se graduó de Keene State College en New Hampshire, en el año 1996 con un bachillerato en Artes, Teatro y Cine, concentración en Producción de Cine y un bachillerato en Psicología, con concentración en el desarrollo de la personalidad y consejería.

Después de vivir en Nueva York y New Hampshire ejerciendo editor de documentales, labor que aún ejerce, Vega regresó a Holyoke con su esposa Debra y juntos abrieron Vega Yoga & Arts Movement, un popular estudio de yoga. Vega es padre de tres niñas.

La posición de representante estatal devenga un salario anual de $61,133. El 6 de septiembre se llevarán acabo elecciones primarias para la posición.

Su postulación llega bajo el estímulo de muchas personas que le han dicho que debe correr para represente, anunció Vega. “Estoy rodeado de muchas personas que me han animado a correr para representante estatal,” dijo Vega sin anunciar los nombres exactos.

El anuncio oficial de la campaña será 14 de febrero a las 10 a.m. cuando Vega presente su plataforma en el Holyoke Heritage State Park en la calle Appleton de Holyoke. “Yo siento que es un buen momento en la ciudad de Holyoke. Todo el mundo está abierto a nuevas ideas. Todo el mundo cree que Holyoke tiene un buen potencial y yo creo que yo represento esto,” cuenta Vega.

Kane dijo al diario The Republican que estará anunciando su campaña oficial en un momento dado durante esta primavera, “Pero a este punto, hay cosas importantes en los que estamos trabajando, como la reforma de salud, el presupuesto y el desarrollo económico,” dijo Kane.

A pesar de que no habla español, Vega dice que es muy importante que las personas sepan que sí los entiende, siendo hispano y habiendo vivido en Holyoke casi toda su vida, y espera poder llegar a la comunidad hispana, así como lo hizo dos términos consecutivos corriendo para asambleísta municipal. “Necesitamos que las personas se involucren. Necesitamos el apoyo de la comunidad latina para que se den las cosas. Necesitamos el apoyo de las empresas y de las organizaciones sin fines de lucro. Necesitamos que los residentes tomen posesión y que sepan que juntos podemos hacer lo que se necesite hacer,” dijo Vega.

Para más información sobre Vega visita http://vegaforholyoke.com

By Mike Plaisance, The Republican

February 2, 2012

HOLYOKE – City Councilor at Large Aaron M. Vega is running for state representative.

Vega, a Democrat, said Thursday in an email he is running in the fall election for the seat held since 2001 by state Rep. Michael F. Kane, D-Holyoke.

“I believe there is great momentum, energy and spirit here in Holyoke, and I’m ready to carry that energy to Beacon Hill,” Vega said.

Vega in January began his second two-year term on the council. He and wife Debra Vega own Vega Yoga and Movement Arts, 4 Open Square Way.

His official campaign announcement will be Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. at Holyoke Heritage State Park on Appleton Street, he said.

Vega’s campaign website is vegaforholyoke.com.

Kane has held the 5th Hampden District seat since defeating Evelyn Chesky in the 2000 election. He had been Ward 5 city councilor from 1996 to 2000.

Kane said he will announce his plan to run for re-election in the spring.

“But at this point, there are important issues we’re working on like health care payment reform, the budget and economic development,” Kane said.

The representative’s yearly salary is $61,133.

Vega said he would bring experience, leadership and fresh ideas to the seat, “and will always continue to listen to all the residents of Holyoke and be a voice of positive change for our city.”

He is chairman of the council Redevelopment Committee and succeeded in getting a public comment period established before City Council meetings.

The primary election is Sept. 6, to narrow the field of candidates if there is more than one from a party, and the general election is Nov. 6.

This story first appeared in the Holyoke Sun.

By Kristin Will
Staff Writer,
February 03, 2012

HOLYOKE – City native and City Councilor Aaron Vega has announced his candidacy for State Representative. The Democrat will run in the party’s primary held Sept. 6.

“I believe there is great momentum, energy and spirit here in Holyoke, and I’m ready to carry that energy to Beacon Hill,” said Vega, “As your state representative I will bring experience, leadership and fresh ideas to the position, and will always continue to listen to all the residents of Holyoke and be a voice of positive change for our city.”

The devoted Holyoker was born in South Holyoke, attended Morgan Elementary School and eventually Holyoke Community College. Vega became a film editor and later moved to New York City and New Hampshire before returning to Holyoke where he currently resides with his wife, Debra, and his two children, Destiny and Courtney. The husband and wife duo opened Vega Yoga and Movement Arts in downtown Holyoke.

In 2009, Vega was elected to the City Council where he worked most notably on the Clean and Safe Streets act. In 2010, he was awarded with the 40 Under 40 Award by Business West. Vega is chairperson of the Redevelopment Committee and sits on the mayor’s Economic Development Council, and the boards of Holyoke Health Center, Homework House, the Carlos Vega Fund for Social Justice, Connection Afterschool Program and the Morgan School turnaround team.

He helped found the Citizens for the Revitalization and Urban Success in Holyoke. He is also a member of the Holyoke Taxpayers Association, the Holyoke Community Land Trust, Friends of the Holyoke Public Library, Holyoke Unites, Friends of the Council on Aging, and the Rotary Club of Holyoke.

Vega has scheduled a press conference for Tuesday, Feb. 14 to officially announce his candidacy for Representative of the Fifth Hampden District. The campaign announcement will take place at 10 a.m. on Feb. 14, in Holyoke Heritage State Park. For more information please visit vegaforholyoke.com. The public is encouraged to attend.