WESTFIELD – This fall will prove to be a big one for the legislature in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as numerous members of both the House and Senate will be both arriving and bidding Boston adieu.
During the past fiscal year, the City of Westfield has seen two flurries of political activity, as a legislative rookie, Democrat John Velis, joined the House caucus after winning last month’s special election for the 4th Hampden District seat, and Westfield Republican Don Humason, Jr. made the jump from the House of Representatives to the Senate.
Humason defeated Democrat David Bartley, a Holyoke City Councilor and son of former Speaker of the Massachusetts House David M. Bartley, in a fall special election for the 2nd Hampden/Hampshire District.
While Velis is likely to face his spring special election opponent, Republican At-Large City Councilor Dan Allie, again this fall, Humason’s challenger in the Senate race has yet to be determined.
Thus far, the crop of Democrats seeking the nomination to face Humason has petered out to two Holyoke residents, Christopher Hopewell and Patrick Leahy.
While Hopewell, an emergency medical services coordinator for Cooley-Dickinson Hospital in Northampton and member of the Holyoke Fire Commission, has received the endorsement of Hampshire County Sheriff Robert Garvey, Leahy, a Holyoke police officer and real estate agent, has received endorsements from several powerful labor unions, both local and statewide.
Political observers throughout the district believe Leahy is in the drivers set to land the Democratic nomination and challenge the popular Westfield Republican, and in talking to the likely candidates, it appears that both are in tune with the needs and concerns of the district.
“Westfield has seen their property taxes increase every year in the last several years and their local aid decrease,” said Leahy Thursday, adding that Westfield Mayor Daniel M. Knapik recently mentioned the city’s decreasing Chapter 70 funding via social media. “One of the most conservative people to run for office in western Massachusetts, Dan Allie, pointed out correctly the lack of leadership and representation in Westfield. The people of Westfield have a point when they talk about their wallets being pinched.”
Leahy also spoke of the issues being faced by rural school districts in the area.
“A lot of those communities share a school system, so there are structures and issues surrounding that,” he said. “A lot of the lifeblood of some of these communities are the PILOT programs – payment in lieu of taxes. A lot of these hilltowns don’t have the taxbase that Westfield, Holyoke and Agawam do, and that’s a reflection of who we have in Boston.”
The incumbent Sen. Humason was also able to shed light on the case that he will again be taking to the residents of the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District this fall.
“I have represented my Senate district, even in a short time, very diligently.” said Humason Friday. “I think voters can expect to hear, from me at least, that I have experience, both in the House and Senate, that neither of my opponents have. Nothing has changed as far as my background and as far as legislative experience.”
Humason then elaborated on the role that that experience will play in the fall.
“You’re still in a body where seniority counts and relationships are important, where you get things not based on party, but how well you work with your colleagues,” he said, referencing the imminent departures of retiring Senators Stephen Brewer (D-Barre) and Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth). “This budget process showed that I worked very well with my colleagues, and with Senator (Stephen) Brewer and President (Therese) Murray. When those members leave, I go from being number 39 to number 35 and, for a body that prides itself on seniority, that’s a good thing.”
