Natalie Blais of Sunderland led the field of seven Democrats in the First Franklin district in the Sept. 4 primary.
HILLTOWNS – Natalie Blais of Sunderland took the field of seven Democratic candidates for the First Franklin House District, winning the seat held by Rep. Stephen Kulik of Worthington since 1993. Blais earned 3,703 votes, or 40.44% of the total in the nineteen-town district which includes Huntington and Chester in The Westfield News coverage area. No Republicans were in the race.
“I am enormously grateful to the residents of the First Franklin District who chose to cast their vote for me. I also want to recognize all of the individuals who took the time to volunteer on this campaign. I am humbled to receive this support and will continue to work hard every day to earn the votes necessary to serve as State Representative,” Blais said.
Blais campaigned on many of the issues facing the rural hilltowns of Franklin and Hampshire counties. Following her victory, she continued her pledge to change the Chapter 70 Foundation Funding formula to benefit rural districts, obtain 100% school transportation cost reimbursement, install last mile broadband, fully fund transportation needs including public transportation, Chapter 90 and small bridges program; increase access to healthcare in rural areas and push for universal single payer healthcare.
Blais also vowed to make Massachusetts a national model in the fight against climate change.
Francia Wisnewski of Montague came in second with 1,479 votes, and UMass junior and Gateway graduate Casey Pease of Worthington came in a close third with 1,347 votes.
UMass junior and Gateway graduate Casey Pease came in third overall in the race.
Pease won the towns of Chesterfield, Huntington, Middlefield and Worthington, and came in second in Chester to Kate Albright-Hanna of Huntington. “I congratulate Natalie Blais on her victory, and I call upon the people of our district to join me in working with her to serve the best interests of our communities and Commonwealth,” Pease said following the campaign.
“I’m so incredibly proud of the strong grassroots campaign we’ve run and extend my heartfelt appreciation to our amazing staff, volunteers, and supporters—who proved that you can never discount the votes and voices of the everyday folks that make up our small towns and who I trust will continue to rise to the occasion and inspire others to effect positive change in our state. We’re only getting started,” Pease added.
Vote tallies for the rest of the candidates included Christine Doktor of Cummington, 1,134 votes; Albright-Hanna, 662; Jonathan Edwards of Whately, 547; and Nathaniel Waring of Sunderland, 84 votes. Andrew Baker of Shelburne, who withdrew from the race in July but whose name was on the ballot, earned 200 votes.
