Don Humason
Town Administrator of Chester
Assumed office
September 6, 2022
Preceded byJill Strong
Mayor of Westfield
In office
January 6, 2020 – January 3, 2022
Preceded byBrian P. Sullivan
Succeeded byMichael A. McCabe
Member of the Massachusetts Senate
from the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire district
In office
November 20, 2013 – January 5, 2020
Preceded byMichael Knapik
Succeeded byJohn Velis
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 4th Hampden district
In office
2003 – November 20, 2013
Preceded byCele Hahn
Succeeded byJohn Velis
Personal details
Born (1967-07-31) July 31, 1967 (age 56)
Westfield, Massachusetts[1]
Political partyRepublican
SpouseJanice Humason (m. 2006)
ChildrenQuinn (b. 2011)
Residence(s)Westfield, Massachusetts
Alma materWestfield State College (B.S.)
OccupationPolitician
WebsiteMassachusetts Legislature website
Campaign website

Donald F. Humason Jr. (born July 31, 1967) is an American politician who served as mayor of Westfield, Massachusetts from 2020 to 2022 and current town administrator of Chester, beginning September 6, 2022.[2] A member of the Republican Party, he previously represented the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District in the Massachusetts Senate from 2013 to 2020, and as representative for the 4th Hampden District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives between 2003 and 2013.[3]

Political career

Massachusetts House of Representatives

In his first bid for public office, Humason was elected on November 5, 2002 with 63% of the vote and was re-elected in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012. He resigned on November 20, 2013 after he was elected to the State Senate.

Humason's committee assignments were as follows.

186th General Court (2009–2011)
187th General Court (2011–2013)
188th General Court (2013–2015)
189th General Court (2015–2017)

Massachusetts Senate

On August 9, 2013, incumbent State Senator Michael Knapik resigned to become Executive Director of Advancement at Westfield State University. Humason defeated Michael Franco in the Republican primary on October 8 and defeated Democratic opponent David K. Bartley 53%-47%.[4][5] A few weeks later, Humason was named as the new Senate Minority Whip by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr. As Minority Whip, Humason worked to coordinate votes within the Senate Republican Caucus and assist the Minority Leader in developing policy.[6] He submitted his letter of resignation to Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka on December 4 upon being elected Mayor of Westfield. A special election was scheduled for March 31, 2020, but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic until May 16;[7] it was won by Representative John Velis, who previously won the 2014 special election to succeed Humason in the House.[8]

During his tenure in the Senate, Humason's committee assignments were as follows:

188th General Court (2013–2014)
189th General Court (2015–2016)
190th General Court (2017–2018)
191st General Court (2019–2020)

Towns represented

In Hampden County: Chicopee (Ward 7 - Precinct A and B, Ward 8 - Precinct A, Ward 9 - Precinct A), Holyoke, Westfield, Agawam, Granville, Montgomery, Russell, Southwick and Tolland.
In Hampshire County: Easthampton and Southampton.

Appointments

Mayor of Westfield

In January 2019, two-term incumbent Mayor Brian P. Sullivan announced he would not seek re-election.[12] On March 21, Humason ran for mayor against Michael McCabe, a 34-year captain of the Westfield Police Department.[13][14] Humason narrowly defeated McCabe in a close race, winning 4,983 votes while McCabe received 4,886. Neither side declared victory as the results were within the margin of error, but McCabe chose not to seek a recount and conceded.[15] He ran for re-election to a second term in 2021, but lost to McCabe in a rematch.[16]

Town administrator of Chester

After his tenure as Mayor of Westfield ended, Humason was chosen by the Chester selectboard to be the next town administrator.[17]

Electoral history

State Legislature

Election results[18]
Year Office Election Subject Party Votes % Opponent Party Votes %
2002 State Representative General Donald F. Humason Jr. Republican 8,250 63.0% Bo Sullivan Democratic 4.827 36.9%
2004 State Representative General Donald F. Humason Jr. Republican 13,720 99.1%
2006 State Representative General Donald F. Humason Jr. Republican 9,925 98.9%
2008 State Representative General Donald F. Humason Jr. Republican 11,521 69.3% Brian R. Hoose Democratic 5,080 30.6%
2010 State Representative General Donald F. Humason Jr. Republican 10,286 99.3%
2012 State Representative General Donald F. Humason Jr. Republican 14,732 99.2%
2013 State Senator Special Donald F. Humason Jr. Republican 18,182 52.6% David K. Bartley Democratic 16,314 47.4%
2014 State Senator General Donald F. Humason Jr. Republican 27,817 54.3% Patrick T. Leahy Democratic 16,314 47.4%
2016 State Senator General Donald F. Humason Jr. Republican 43,097 59.5% J.D. Parker-O'Grady Democratic 29,285 40.4%
2018 State Senator General Donald F. Humason Jr. Republican 45,300 97.9%

Westfield mayoral election, 2019

Candidates Preliminary election[19] General election
Votes % Votes %
Donald F. Humason, Jr. 1,793 46% 4,983 50%
Michael A. McCabe 1,690 44% 4,886 50%
Kristen Mello 355 9%
Andrew Mullen 29 1%

Westfield mayoral election, 2021

Candidates General election[20]
Votes %
Michael A. McCabe 4,714 55.1%
Donald F. Humason, Jr. (incumbent) 3,846 44.9%

See also

References

  1. ^ 2007–2008 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
  2. ^ "Ex-Mayor, Senator Donald Humason tapped as Chester's town administrator". Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  3. ^ Massachusetts Legislature profile
  4. ^ Lederman, Diane. "State Senate candidates Donald Humason and David Bartley move ahead with campaigns following Tuesday primaries". The Republican. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  5. ^ Rizzuto, Robert. "Republican Don Humason wins 2nd Hampden Hampshire District Senate seat". The Republican. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  6. ^ Kriger, Barry. "Humason promoted to new leadership position". Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
  7. ^ Tuthill, Paul (March 25, 2020). "March Special Elections In Massachusetts Postponed". WAMC. Archived from the original on 2021-09-13. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  8. ^ DeForge, Jeanette (May 20, 2020). "John Velis wins special election for state Senate seat". MassLive.com. Archived from the original on 2020-05-26. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  9. ^ Kriger, Barry. "Humason promoted to new leadership position". Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
  10. ^ Trowbridge, Ryan. "Sen. Don Humason Appointed to Military & Security Task Force". Archived from the original on October 5, 2014. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  11. ^ Berry, Conor. "Sen. Don Humason assumes leadership role in Massachusetts Senate". Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  12. ^ "Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan will not seek 3rd term". 30 January 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-08-17.
  13. ^ Tremblay, Hope. "Massachusetts Sen. Don Humason announces run for Westfield mayor". Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  14. ^ Kinney, Jim. "Westfield mayoral candidates Donald Humason, Michael McCabe advance to general election". Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  15. ^ "McCabe Concedes To Humason In Westfield Mayor's Race". Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  16. ^ "Michael McCabe defeats Westfield Mayor Donald Humason". Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  17. ^ Porter, Amy. "Ex-Mayor, Senator Donald Humason tapped as Chester's town administrator". Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  18. ^ "Massachusetts Election Statistics". Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
  19. ^ "Westfield mayoral candidates Donald Humason, Michael McCabe advance to general election". The Republican.
  20. ^ "Michael McCabe defeats Westfield Mayor Donald Humason". Retrieved November 2, 2021.

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