WESTFIELD – The candidates for the 2nd Hampden-Hampshire District State Senate seat – incumbent Westfield Republican Don Humason, Jr. and Holyoke Democrat Patrick Leahy – sparred on issues ranging from gun crime to four statewide referendum questions on the November 4 ballot at a forum sponsored by The Westfield News Group last month.
Humason touted his 11 years as Westfield’s State Representative in Boston, which challenger Leahy – a police officer and Realtor making his first run for public office – believes is the district’s problem.
“My opponent has said the experiences he has in the Statehouse makes him a better candidate for state office and I couldn’t disagree more,” said Leahy. “We need people in Boston who have worked in the real world, who have seen the laws that are passed in Boston and how they’re actually applied on the streets, from the hilltowns to the downtowns,” he said.
Despite Leahy’s attempts to paint him as an insider, Humason replied that he’s still in touch with the people he represents.
“I only work in Boston – I live in the real world,” said Humason. “I grew up right here in the city of Westfield… I’ve held all sorts of jobs and it wasn’t until I got to college that I decided the direction I wanted to take was public service.”
“I think it’s a little disingenuous for a police officer to say that I can’t do the job because I’m in public service.” he said.
When asked who the two candidates would support in Westfield’s race for State Representative, Humason refused to answer the question.
“Regardless of who takes that position – the incumbent (John Velis) or the challenger (Dan Allie) – I pledge to work side by side with them,” said Humason.
Leahy said he’d vote Velis if he resided in Westfield before taking a tacit jab at Humason, who endorsed Allie prior to their spring special election.
Regarding the statewide ballot questions, Humason replied “yes, no, no, no”, stating he would vote to repeal the automatic gas tax, but against expanding the state’s bottle bill, repealing the state’s casino gaming law and the earned sick time questions.
Leahy didn’t say if he was for or against the gas tax but said he would vote to repeal the casino law and in favor of earned sick time – which would allow workers to earn up to 40 hours of sick time a year – and expanding the state’s bottle bill.
“There’s more plastic bottles thrown into the trash than ever before in the history of the world probably. There’s enough plastic bottles thrown into our landfills to fill Fenway Park five times,” said Leahy. “This is the expansion of a very successful piece of legislation that has proven time and time again that it makes our streets cleaner.”
Making the streets cleaner in regards to illegal guns and drug crime were also points of contention between the two candidates, with Leahy criticizing Humason for voting against a recent gun bill.
“When Don votes against a gun bill – because of one small thing he has yet to tell us why – that GOAL (Gun Owners Action League) said was one of the best pieces of legislation to go by… as a police officer, I could not believe he would try to play it like a typical politician,” said Leahy. “When Don throws out the baby with the bathwater on a good gun bill that was just finally passed, it doesn’t help anybody.”
Humason applauded Leahy for his work as a police officer and stated that the issues with guns and drugs have gotten worse.
“The legislature just this past session in the Senate has expanded treatment for people who have become addicted to opioids and we mandated that insurance treat them for longer periods of time,” said Humason. “I’ve been endorsed by the Gun Owners Action League and I support the law-abiding gun owners of this state while at the same time trying to crack down on criminal gun owners, as well.”
“I believe we get the government that we deserve,” said Leahy. “All of the parts of our district need a strong advocate. I’m the only candidate that has gone down to Boston and prevented crime and that’s answered a 911 call.”
“It has been an honor to represent this community and all of the communities in this district these past 11 months and I’m hoping to get the opportunity to get back for my own full two-year term,” said Humason.
