GREENFIELD — Four applicants have applied for former At-Large City Councilor Penny Ricketts’ seat following her resignation last month.

Tuesday, Sept. 24, marked the deadline for those interested in applying for the position, with Mpress Bennu, Sara Brown, Stephanie Gale and Thomas Bledsoe throwing their hats into the ring. City Council is expected to vote on its selection after Committee Chairs selects its finalists at its Oct. 1 meeting.

Mpress Bennu

Bennu wears multiple hats in the community, serving as chair of the Human Rights Commission, Franklin County Rotary Club president, Moving Mountains CEO, and Greenfield Savings Bank Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) analyst and community outreach officer. She submitted her application on Sept. 10.

In an interview Tuesday, Bennu said she decided to run for the vacant seat to promote unity in Greenfield and bring a sense of community to the city. She said she carries a tremendous amount of respect for Ricketts and her decade of service as an African-American woman on City Council.

“I believe in our city and I believe that what our city needs is somebody who is open-minded and willing to unify us all, despite party affiliation or anything else that divides us,” Bennu said. “Everything I do is rooted in community. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from. I believe in being that voice of the people who need a voice. I believe in democracy and I believe in equal rights and representation for everybody.”

Bennu mentioned the School Committee’s reluctance to station a school resource officer as one of the issues she’s particularly passionate about, adding that with two children in the Greenfield schools, she has concerns about safety and hopes to open discussions on the matter.

Additionally, Bennu mentioned providing services to the city’s homeless and low-income populations and youth advocacy as some of her additional priorities if she is selected to serve on the council.

“This is definitely an experience for me, and will be my honor to continue the rest of Penny Ricketts’ tenure,” Bennu said.

Sara Brown

Valley Housing Co-op Co-founder and President Sara Brown announced her application for the seat during last week’s City Council meeting, citing environmental preservation and housing as two of the main issues she wishes to help tackle as a councilor.

“I’ve always wanted to be involved in local politics because it makes a tangible difference in making people’s lives better,” Brown told the council. “I have experience in community organizing for environmental justice and affordable housing. ... I have a lot of capacity to help the city operate for the benefit of all. I’d be eager to learn the ropes and get to know everyone and truly understand the issues.”

Brown co-founded the Redistro Free Store, a free thrift store that is open to the public, and in July, she served as the driving force behind the Valley Housing Co-op’s purchase of 32 acres of land on Stone Farm Lane, a purchase that she said will keep the housing portion of the land “permanently affordable” and off of the speculative market.

In her letter of interest, Brown said she wants to work collaboratively with other councilors and engage with constituents to work toward the “long-term success” and sustainability of Greenfield.

“I’m drawn to the complexity of navigating the dynamics across the political, economic and cultural spectrum. I believe one of my strong suits is diplomacy and listening. … The goal of leadership is to meet the needs of your constituents,” Brown wrote in her letter of interest. “I feel hopeful about working together to create a more resilient future for Greenfield.”

Stephanie Gale

Twenty-five-year Greenfield resident Stephanie Gale formerly served as director of resource development, community engagement and marketing at United Way of Franklin County (now United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region), and more recently as a pretrial service coordinator for Youth Services Inc. in Brattleboro, Vermont.

“My passion for advocacy, community-building and engagement, along with a strong educational background in sociology, law, government, environmental science and policy, psychology and child development, equip me to represent the residents of Greenfield effectively,” Gale wrote in her letter of interest to the city. “I am excited about the range of resources and local events, the new library and fire station, and the upcoming expansion of Green Fields Market, all of which contribute to our vibrant community.”

In an interview Tuesday, Gale said she hopes to help facilitate “open and transparent” communication between municipal departments, citing recent conflict between the School Department and City Council as an issue she hopes to remedy if selected.

Gale also expressed concern with Mayor Ginny Desorgher’s decision to remove park benches from the end of Miles Street, noting that she wants to find a balance between bolstering public safety and preserving open space.

“There needs to be a different approach … a balance between public safety and addressing the needs of the city’s homeless community,” Gale said in an interview.

Wishing to pursue a legal career, Gale said she hopes to bring her detail orientation and analytical skills to the council for the ultimate goal of facilitating growth in the city.

“I am committed to thorough research and informed decision-making, driven by my interest in law and policy development,” she wrote in her letter of interest. “I believe that active participation can foster growth, and I am motivated to help facilitate that.”

Thomas Bledsoe

Until his retirement in 2022, Thomas Bledsoe was the founding CEO of the Housing Partnership Network (HPN), a collaborative of the nation’s leading nonprofit affordable housing developers, lenders and service providers.

Bledsoe moved to Greenfield in January after living in Newton for 17 years. In his submitted letter of interest, he said his neighbors Wilson Roberts and Phil Elmer encouraged him to apply for the position, given his experience with affordable housing, mixed-use development, and state and city governments.

In an interview Tuesday, Bledsoe said if he is selected for the vacant seat, he hopes to help develop both affordable housing and commercial property downtown with the goal of bolstering the city’s financial vitality. He added that as a nature lover and cyclist, he is also interested in environmental protection efforts.

“I love the outdoors, so anything to protect the sustainability of the city — the trees and rivers and mountains, all of that — I support,” he said.

Bledsoe also expressed interest in assisting with the city’s effort to rid the former Lunt Silversmiths property of groundwater toxins and said he wants to get involved with plans to create east-west rail as a means of fostering economic development.

In his letter of interest, Bledsoe noted that he and his wife met At-Large City Councilor John Garrett at Four Phantoms Brewing Co. and that Garrett’s enthusiasm for Greenfield made an impression on him. He added that although he is new to Greenfield, he hopes to lend a hand in any way he can.

“I am sure you have other candidates who have lived in town much longer and may be a better fit for this position,” Bledsoe wrote. “If you would find my background and experience helpful to the issues that Greenfield now faces, I would be happy to serve in any capacity I can.”

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.