Timothy Allen (city councilor)

Early life and education

Allen was born and grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts. He graduated from Classical High School in 1969 and pursued an undergraduate degree in Human Relations from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. From there, Allen went on to receive a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Western New England University.

After college, Allen initially pursued a career as a special education teacher in the Springfield Public School system. However, after an aptitude test showed a special talent for logical thinking, he moved into an IT position with Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, where he remained for 27 years. Allen was eventually promoted to Vice President of the IT department, where he managed hundreds of employees and oversaw an operating budget of $10 Million.

As a resident of the East Forest Park neighborhood of Springfield, Allen has been involved with a number of civic groups and community organizations, including the Outer Belt Civic Association, the Public Health Commission, and Step Up Springfield.

Springfield City Council

Allen has served as Ward 7 Springfield City Councilor since 2009, when he ran and was first elected after receiving 70% of his Ward's popular vote. Allen was elected to his second term as Councilor when he ran unopposed in 2011.

During his time on the Council, Allen has served on a number of Committees including Public Safety and Special Permit, and as chair of New Revenue and Workforce Development. Allen has taken a number of significant votes including spearheading a successful 2011 effort by the Council and local citizens to repeal a special permit issued to Palmer Renewable Energy for construction of a Biomass plant in the East Forest Park neighborhood of Springfield. Allen also voted in favor of establishing a Police Oversight Board. In 2014, Allen voted for an ordinance that increased oversight of Pawn Shop sales and purchases. Allen and City Council President Michael Fenton introduced a public safety plan in 2012 that established a new gun court and called for a number of other community based solutions to city violence.

Allen lead the fight to reopen tornado damaged Cathedral High School. The school had been operating out of a facility in the adjacent town of Wilbraham, following the 2011 tornado. Allen helped form the Cathedral Action Committee and directly lobbied Bishop Timothy McDonnell on behalf of his constituents. The Catholic Diocese of Springfield announced in 2014 that, with the aid of Federal Emergency Management Agency funds, the school would be rebuilt on its original Surrey Road site.

In 2013, Allen was named "Library Advocate of the Year" by the Massachusetts Library Association for his work with the City Council in keeping Springfield Libraries open despite citywide budget cuts that had initially forced them to close their doors.

2011 Springfield Tornado

In 2011, an EF3 tornado devastated large portions of Springfield, with East Forest Park being one of the areas suffering the most damage. Allen was instrumental in the Ward's response, creating a coalition of local residents to canvass neighborhoods and provide assistance to others in need. Allen is quoted as saying “I was surprised and humbled” after being recognized by the East Forest Park Civic Association for his neighborhood disaster relief efforts.

State Senate

In February 2014, Allen announced his candidacy for Massachusetts State Senate in the First Hampden Hampshire District, which includes portions of Chicopee, Longmeadow, Wilbraham, East Longmeadow, Ludlow, Granby, Hampden, Belchertown, and portions of Springfield. Results will be decided in the Massachusetts general election, 2014.