John Velis receives a call from Massachusetts House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo after winning the Westfield State Representative seat. (File photo by Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD – It was a joyful evening Tuesday, a good party as far as parties go, but for John Velis, the newly elected Representative for the 4th Hampden District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, it’s time to get to work.
“If it was up to me, I’d be sworn in already,” said the 32-year old Velis, the first Democrat to represent Westfield in the House in four decades. “I expect to be sworn in within the next week and a half.”
The first item on the new legislator’s agenda will deal with the state’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
“First and foremost, the Ways and Means Committee is looking to relay their budget, and it’s time to give Westfield a voice in the process,” he said, adding that he will not be a tow-the-line Democrat. “John Velis isn’t going to just give a yes or no vote. As a lawyer, I’m trained to read into everything, and I’m going to research all legislation that comes to me.”
Velis also stated that he will soon form a committee made up of his new constituents, which will help educate him on the issues facing Westfield.
“I’m a firm believer that by forming a committee with a wide variety of views — public safety, small business, seniors, etc – I’ll be able to ask these people ‘how does this piece of legislation affect you?’ Because I don’t know what impacts them like they do.”
Velis is hoping to make good on his campaign promise to be “the most accessible politician the city has ever seen”, and wants to hear the thoughts and opinions of all his new constituents, even old foes.
“It’s not going to be a partisan committee,” he said before being asked whether he would consult the small business acumen of Dan Allie, his Republican opponent in the April 1 special election. “I would absolutely be interested in hearing what he (Allie) would have to say on matters. He got a significant amount of votes. John Velis isn’t just the representative for the people who voted for John Velis. He’s the state rep for every single person who voted for Dan Allie as well, and I hope those people will seek me out.”
Regarding his joining the Democrat super-majority in Beacon Hill’s lower house, Velis said he has had conversations with Speaker Robert DeLeo (D-Winthrop) and that House leadership is “pumped.”
“There were five special elections being held (on April 1), and they were very candid,” he said. “They thought it (the 4th Hampden) was in play. They thought they might go 4-1. It’s a seat that’s been Republican for 41 years, so it’s a big pickup.”
When asked whether or not he will seek to build further rapport with State Senator Don Humason, Jr. (R-Westfield), Velis said that he and the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District’s Senator are each looking out for Westfield.
“Whatever is in the best interest for Westfield will be accomplished better if Don and I are playing on the same team,” he said. “And we both have Westfield’s best interests at heart.”
Velis will have a short window within which to showcase those best interests to the city’s voters, as the 4th Hampden District seat will be up for grabs once more come November.
“John Velis wants his record to be judged not by the ribbons he cut and the events he showed up to, but rather, what he got done and accomplished,” he said. “I’ll have some sort of record, however small, but I’ll be able to say “this is what John Velis has done.’”
Regarding his potential opponent come November, there is one candidate the Democrat hopes he won’t be facing, that being the man whose office sits several feet away from his own.
“I mean, he announced the other night he’d run for the Republicans,” said Velis jokingly of his uncle Peter, his partner at their School Street law firm, who held the seat for two terms in the 1970’s as a Republican. “I think I can keep him out of it, though. I’ve six or seven months to anger him into it, though.”
All kidding aside, Velis hopes that he’ll be able to appeal to the city’s voters again when the leaves change color.
“I’ll be running a different campaign, as people will be able to look at my resume. You’re dealing with a whole different beast,” he said. “This time, it was the only race, but this fall, there will be a gubernatorial race, state senators, mid-term elections, so there will be a lot more turnout. It just means I’ll have to knock on that many more doors.”
