WESTFIELD – Andrea Nuciforo, Jr., who has been visiting some of the cities and towns that will make up the newly redrawn 1st Massachusetts Congressional District, made a stop in Westfield yesterday.
Last month it was announced that Westfield, West Springfield and Holyoke will be part of the new district, taking effect next year.
While in Westfield, Nuciforo met with Westfield News owner Patrick Berry and staff members.
Nuciforo offered an overview of his career, which includes representing the Berkshire district for 10 years.
Nuciforo was born and raised in Pittsfield by his Sicilian father and Polish mother, both first generation immigrants. His father, Andrea Nuciforo Sr., was the first in his family to graduate from college. He was a lawyer who also represented the Berkshires in the House of Representatives.
Nuciforo attended Taconic Vocational Technical High School and went on to become a lawyer. After working at a Boston law firm for several years, he returned home to Pittsfield. When Jane Swift chose not to seek re-election, he ran and was elected to office and served from 1997-2007, when he also chose not to seek reelection. Since that time, Nuciforo has served the Berkshires as its register of deeds.
“I’m the Donald Ashe of the Berkshires,” he joked.
When the redistricting was first announced, Nuciforo decided to run for the representative seat. He said because the district has changed so much, it is almost as if it is an open seat.
“Incumbents were shifted a lot and it is so different – it’s happening around the country and it’s created a lot of interest (from potential candidates).”
Nuciforo said it is a good time to run because people want change.
“People are not in love with what they see in Washington these days,” he said. Neal has held his position since 1988 and Nuciforo said this coming election will be “the first meaningful Democratic primary for Western Massachusetts in 21 years” since retiring U. S. Rep. John Olver was elected.
Berry asked Nuciforo what he would do for Westfield, especially small business owners. Nucifero said there are two things every city and town needs – vision and money. He said he has vision and would work to secure money.
“You can have all the money in the world but it won’t make a difference without vision,” he said. “The role of a US Rep is to engage local communities, to address specific needs of communities.”
Nuciforo said Westfield is starting to turn things around, especially downtown.
“What I see in Westfield is where we were in Pittsfield 10 years ago,” said Nuciforo.
Now enjoying a thriving downtown, Pittsfield was once plagued with empty store fronts and few residents risked opening a new business.
In terms of downtown renovation “economics – infrastructure is expensive, but Westfield already has it,” Nuciforo said.
Nuciforo said there are numerous similarities between the two cities, including population, demographics and income. He said he sees big things for Westfield’s future. Nuciforo also noted he has worked with state Sen. Michael Knapik and state Rep. Donald Humason and is aware of Westfield’s needs.
Nuciforo is just starting his campaign and said the next nine months will be spent out in the 86 cities and towns that comprise the district.
“You can’t represent people if you don’t know them,” he said. “I’ll be meeting people and will also have a social media presence, to reach even more residents.”
