Congressman Richard E. Neal paid a visit to the city Saturday to meet informally with residents.
Neal was at Leo’s Gallery Deli for a meet and greet at the invitation of the Westfield Democratic City Committee.
“Our committee is in support of his election,” said Committee Chairman Mark Hanrahan.
Neal is running for U.S. Representative of the newly reconfigured First Massachusetts District seat, which will include all of Hampden County and Berkshire County, and parts of Franklin County and Hampshire County. Currently, John Olver, who is retiring, represents Westfield.
Neal was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1988. He currently represents the Second District of Massachusetts, which includes cities and towns in western and central Massachusetts. He is a member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee and the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures.
His committee appointments are one reason Warren Hill, a member of the Massachusetts Democratic Committee, said he supports Neal.
“He is on some significant committees and he has a lot of seniority in congress,” said Hill, who worked for Olver’s campaigns with his wife Norma. “We are now working with Congressman Neal.”
Neal said he was happy to meet residents Saturday, and, he is happy to have Westfield included in the district.
“Westfield is a great town for me to represent,” said Neal, citing his relationship with Westfield State University and other city groups.
Neal said he can “see the government at work” in Westfield, as downtown gets renovated.
As Neal talked with the few dozen people at Leo’s, he said he is excited about the future.
“I’m thrilled to have Westfield and happy that, for the first time, Hampden County is consolidated,” said Neal, adding that keeping all of Hampden County in one district “makes sense.”
