Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno kicked off his re-election campaign for another term Monday, saying he has even greater passion and energy for the job than when he first ran eight years ago.

Speaking to a full crowd at the Elks Lodge, Mayor Sarno says Springfield has rebounded from near fiscal collapse and a state-imposed financial control board a decade ago to generating $2.7 billion in capital investments. That’s testament to what he says is his proven leadership guiding the city through turbulent waters.

“I’ve governed in the worst economic times since the great depression. And yet I have now the highest bond ratings in the city’s history, forty million dollars in reserves,” he says.

Sarno says the city is also making headway on public safety, although some potential candidates are questioning Sarno’s efforts to curb crime. This mayoral campaign could emerge as the most crowded in recent history. The Springfield elections office says eight people so far have taken out nomination papers. The potential candidates must submit at least 500 certified signatures to the city’s election office by July 28th in order to be placed on the primary ballot in September.