ALEX MORSE
WESTFIELD – Incumbent U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse Aug. 26 spoke about why they are the best candidate for the 1st Congressional seat.
Neal is a moderate Democrat while Morse is progressive seeking votes in the Sept. 1 Primary Election. Both were interviewed separately by Westfield’s Harry Rock on his “Rock on, Westfield” show broadcast live Wednesday at Westfield’s Community Program Channel 15 and WSKB radio.
Rock asked few questions, allowing each candidate time to speak and expand on each question.
Morse is a Holyoke native, the son of two Holyokers who grew up in poverty there. Morse said he appreciated the education he received in Holyoke Public Schools and went on to earn a degree at Brown University. Instead of taking a job in a wealthy city, Morse said he chose to return to Holyoke to try to make it better.
“Holyoke is a small city with big city problems,” he said, noting that his father has worked at Carando in Springfield for 34 years and now resides in Westfield, and his mother runs a daycare in his childhood home.
In his nine years as mayor, Morse said much has been accomplished and spoke about schools, racial injustice, the opioid epidemic and more. However, he said there is more to be done.
“When I first ran in 2011, I said I wanted to be mayor for 8-10 years,” he said. Now, Morse wants to continue to improve the lives of residents of the district in Congress.
Rock noted Morse’s confidence at age 21, when most young adults do not know what they want to do in the future, save for finding the next party. Rock said Morse took on the challenge of being mayor out of the gate and now, instead of seeking a state position, he is once again taking a leap by running for a seat at the table in Washington D.C.
“Going up against folks is what I do,” Morse said, adding he doesn’t “feel we have a strong federal partner.”
Morse said he appreciates what Neal has done for the region, but said after more than three decades in office, it’s time for someone new.
“Richard Neal took office three weeks before I was born,” said Morse, “after 30 years of being in Congress, you become a part [of the establishment].”
Morse said the challenges today are different than the ones Neal faced when first elected.
“It’s a different time than it was 31 years ago,” he said. “It requires different solutions.”
Morse spoke about the power of Neal’s position as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. He said while having someone from Massachusetts in that position is important, if that person doesn’t use their power for the region, it doesn’t help.
“We’d hardly know we have one of the most powerful members of Congress [from our area],” Morse said. “I want to fight for western Massachusetts.”
Rock said Morse mentioned the word power several times, but he preferred to say influence and leadership and asked Morse how he would influence and lead in Congress.
“What would you bring to the table? How would you establish yourself?” asked Rock.
Morse said he would represent the 87 communities of the district, “not just one city.” He said he would host community town hall meetings monthly. He said consistency was important and spoke about concerns across the district. He said although he would be new to Congress, he brings nine years experience as mayor. He said he would reach across the aisle and listen to ideas and vote not based on party affiliation, but on the ideas.
“I will be accountable not to the Speaker, I will be accountable to the people here,” Morse said.
Morse said his opponent answers to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and corporate Political Action Committees (PACs). Rock noted that Morse has received financial support from PACS as well. Morse said those PACS are different from the ones supporting Neal.
“We don’t take money from corporate PACS,” Morse said, noting his PAC funding has come from labor unions and national groups such as Move On. He said most of his donations have come from ordinary people.
“We’ve put a lot of effort into creating a people-powered campaign,” he said, adding that 97 percent of his contributions came from people donating less than $200.
Morse said he would advocate for term limits and told Rock he is supported by New York U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
