EASTHAMPTON — Standing between Nashawannuck Pond and a ring of dozens of supporters, JT Tirrell announced his candidacy for Easthampton mayor Tuesday afternoon.

Tirrell is the second candidate to step forward for the upcoming mayoral race, following current Mayoral Executive Assistant Lindsi Sekula. Easthampton’s current Mayor Nicole LaChapelle, who has been in office since 2018, announced in 2023 that she would not seek reelection for a fourth term.

Tirrell said that, should he be elected to lead the city, his focus will primarily revolve around promoting genuine discussions, listening readily to constituents and bringing the community he loves together even in the face of divisive issues.

“I believe leadership means creating space for open dialogue,” he said in his announcement speech.

A lifelong Easthampton resident, Tirrell, 53, fell in love with public service when his involvement in local youth sports led him to a position on the Parks and Recreation Commission. From there, he was elected to the City Council in 2023, where he currently serves as an at-large member.

“That role has allowed me to listen, learn and lead,” he said in his speech. “Today, I seek to continue that service on an even broader scale as your next mayor.”

In his professional life, Tirrell’s path has taken him through roles in areas ranging from criminal justice to higher education. For the past 13 years, he has served as the equipment manager at The Williston Northampton School, which he graduated from before completing a criminal justice and sociology degree at Castleton University in Vermont.

He has also continued his involvement with youth sports in the community over the years, serving on the Easthampton Little League board of directors for the past 12 years, and as its president for the past seven. Some community members may recognize him from his time spent on the field as an umpire and referee.

Originally, Tirrell didn’t see himself running for mayor. In February, when a community member asked him if he’d ever consider it, his answer was quick — no, because he didn’t feel he had enough experience. But after some urging from supporters, the idea of running for the mayor’s seat started to sound better and better.

“I feel like I’m doing it for the right reasons,” he explained to the Gazette. “And I can gain the experience.”

But he added that he wouldn’t be considering this role in any other place but Easthampton, which he described as a “city with a town mindset,” and a community that he has become deeply ingrained and invested in over the course of his life.

One of the things he has loved most about living in Easthampton has been the tight-knit feel of the community, and the way people come together. But in the current polarized political climate, he said he has noticed much more division in the community, and one of his priorities in running for office is ensuring that every person feels heard, but is also able to find common ground with their neighbors. He hopes to do so by listening intently to community members to understand intimately their concerns and hopes.

“By listening to somebody else, it’s going to change your perspective a lot,” he said. “I just want to bring everybody back together. It’s divisive times right now.”

Another early focus of Tirrell’s is the completion of the new senior center — a project that Sekula has also pegged as a priority.

“I just feel like our veterans and our seniors are underserved,” Tirrell said. He added that he hopes to get the new senior center up and running in a timely manner, and ensure that it serves those communities to the fullest extents possible.

The city will begin accepting formal filings for mayoral candidates on July 1, according to the City Clerk’s office. The deadline for candidate filings will be Sept. 16.

The next mayor will be the fourth for Easthampton, following LaChapelle, Karen Cadieux and Michael A. Tautznik.

Alexa Lewis can be reached at alewis@gazettenet.com.