Peter White	Tricia Farley-Bouvier	Ryan Scago

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Party candidates in the Democratic primary for the 3rd Berkshire District state representative emphasized differences in experience, approach and accessibility over ideological issues at a public debate held Monday night at Berkshire Community College.

Democratic contenders Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Ryan Scago and Peter White outlined their reasons and qualifications for the office of 3rd District, which covers most of Pittsfield. This seat is being filled by special election this year to fill the vacancy left by the July resignation of Christopher N. Speranzo, who left the office after being appointed to the position of clerk-magistrate to the Central Berkshire District Court by the Gov. Deval Patrick.

Candidate Websites

Farley-Bouvier Scago White

A tone of close agreement and parallel policies on many issues was felt throughout the debate, which was sponsored by the Pittsfield Gazette, Pittsfield Community Television and Berkshire Community College. Candidates fielded questions from PCTV's David Cachat in a manner that focused on trying to convey a general sense of their stylistic differences, while revealing a few concrete deviations on legislation and general political issues.

Similar positions were expressed on such well-trodden party issues as health care, gay marriage, public library services and funding, and the importance of community colleges and local higher education. Parallels even extended down into the three words the contenders chose to describe their leadership style, with all three choosing "collaborative" and "decisive" as their first two.

Some significant policy differences were nonetheless made apparent. Farley-Bouvier said she favored an increase in the gas tax, while Scago and White opposed it. On the subject of minimum wage, White supported raising it and indexing it to inflation; Farley-Bouvier opposed such a raise at this time, citing impact on small business, but that "looking at indexing it to inflation was a good idea," while Scago voiced support for raising minimum wage as well as a possible increase in personal income tax exemption.

When asked if they supported the Patrick administration's proposal to require all employers to provide at least seven paid sick days per year, Scago and Farley-Bouvier both indicated that while they believe paid sick days should be encouraged, but not universally required by a mandate, while White supports the plan.

"I think that it should be left up to the individual employers, especially in tough economic times," said Scago. "It's something I think that everyone should be entitled to, should have, but I don't think it can come down in the form of a mandate."

"When it comes to our small businesses ... I don't think we can mandate those sick days," said Farley-Bouvier, "It's sort of like a free market, an employee is going to go where the best benefits are. We can't put more burdens on our small businesses."

"It doesn't do us any good if we have sick people going in to work, because that's what's going to happen without it being a provided benefit," said White. "They're going into work sick, they're getting everyone else sick, and it's not good for the business."

When asked what recent State House legislation they would have voted against, White and Scago both cited the removal of health care as an item from the collective bargaining rights for state and municipal employees. Farley-Bouvier said that more than any particular bill, she had issues with the process or way in which legislation was sometimes handled in Boston, such as a lack of transparency with the recent casino bill.

It was on the subject of their qualifications and experience that the candidates demonstrated the widest variety of responses.

Farley-Bouvier repeatedly emphasized her experience in Pittsfield as a parent in addition to her municipal experience, years on the City Council and work as an educator. 

Ryan Scago presented his experience working in his family's businesses in a tough economy as well as occupational experience in the district attorney's office, sheriff's department and Connecticut State House. White said that while having only served two years on the City Council, he believes that his years of experience with the Morningside Initiative, working at the Brien Center, and visible accessibility across many city and cultural events have prepared him to serve the most diverse spectrum of constituency.

All candidates were unanimous in their support of the Patriots over the Dolphins in Monday night's NFL game.

The full broadcast of the debate is available through the CityLink section of the PCTV website.

The primary special election to determine the Democratic candidate for the seat will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 20, with Pittsfield polls open from 7 to 8. A second debate for the 3rd Berkshire representative seat will take place at BCC on Oct. 3, in preparation for the final election for this office on Oct. 18.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — In an early demonstration of unity, the three Democratic candidates for state representative for the 3rd Berkshire District, Peter White, Ryan Scago and Tricia Farley-Bouvier, on Tuesday joined striking Verizon workers on the picket line and issued the following statement:

We support without reservation the members of the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers who are now on strike at Verizon Communications in Pittsfield and throughout the vommonwealth.

We are troubled by the attack on middle-class workers as exemplified by Verizon's demands for a pension freeze, fewer sick days, and far higher employee health contributions. Meanwhile, Verizon is making unprecedented profits with its CEO Ivan Seidenberg earning more than $18 million in total compensation in 2010 – roughly $49,000 every day. Sound economic policy requires us to stabilize our economy and one factor in that is greater pay equity between workers and executives.

The Verizon workers have not asked for increases in their wages and benefits in their contract negotiations, they simply do not want their benefits slashed and their job security put in jeopardy. We appreciate that the company returned to the table and we request that the corporate executives bargain in good faith for a fair contract for working families.

It is our hope that a united front based on the values of the democratic party will bring much needed awareness from the community to the struggle of these workers for a fair contract.

Signed,
Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Ryan Scago and Peter White
Democratic Candidates for State Representative, 3rd Berkshire District

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray joined local Democrats on Monday to kick off the final leg of the 2010 campaign season.

Some 75 party members and officials were on hand to open the campaign office at 31 South St., just recently the headquarters for Tom Bowler's successful campaign for sheriff.

"We forged some tremendous and wonderful friendships - we hope everlasting friendships - we developed some fantastic partnerships working from this location," said Bowler. "We wish the coordinating campaign all the success on Nov. 2 that we did on Sept. 14."

The get-out-the-vote drive may have greater significance on the statewide level where recent polls have Gov. Deval Patrick and Republican challenger Charles Baker in a dead heat than at the local level.

In the heavily Democratic Berkshires, the 1st Berkshire District and county sheriff were decided primary night when no Republicans chose to run. Going into the general election, only Democratic nominee Paul Mark of Hancock has a GOP opponent, Michael Case of Washington; both Reps. Christopher Speranzo of the 3rd District and William "Smitty" Pignatelli in the 4th District will be vying against Green/Rainbow Party candidates Mark C. Miller and Scott Lee Laugenour, respectively.

Patrick, on the other hand, is working hard to fend off Baker, former head of Harvard Pilgrim; Murray's opponent is Richard Tisei, state Senate minority leader. Trailing behind are Treasurer Timothy Cahill, running as an independent, and Green-Rainbow candidate Jill Stein for governor and Stein's running mate Richard Purcell for lieutenant governor. (Cahill's running mate Paul Loscocco jumped ship last week.)

Murray reminded those present that he was selected by them, not the governor, but kept his sharpest comments for Patrick's opponent. Baker, a state budget secretary in the 1990s, is running on his fiscal acumen, but Murray dismissed his reputation, saying he raised insurance premiums 150 percent while at Harvard Pilgrim and pointed to his role in the state's modern symbol of waste and fraud.

"The architect of the Big Dig financing plan now wants to be your governor," he told the appreciative crowd.

U.S. Rep. John W. Olver, who is facing Republican Bill Gunn, was supposed to attend but had to cancel. Also missing was Attorney General Martha Coakley, who was in Lee that morning and at The Berkshire Eagle in the afternoon, and Suzanne Bump of Great Barrington, who's running for auditor.

Olver's campaign manager Debra Guachione stepped in to make a pitch for the entire Democratic ticket. "Only four years ago, we broke a 16-year chain of Republican leadership," she said of Patrick and Murray. "Those governors wanted to be in Mexico, Canada, Washington and New York — not Massachusetts."

Murray said Patrick had the perfect cover for the leaving the state during its worst years: "The president of the United States asked me serve."

"But he didn't. He didn't cut and run," the former Worcester mayor continued.

Downing, a former Olver staffer, said it was important to return the Amherst professor to office.

"We need him to continue to be our voice on Capitol Hill," said Downing. "When Democrats remain in power in 2010 and when we make sure the president's agenda isn't stalled by a party that just wants to say no to anything."

In addition to the candidates, the local party members attending included Mary K. O'Brien; Mayor James M. Ruberto, who gave a passionate plug for his friend Patrick; former North Adams Mayor John Barrett III, who has been a strong backer of his former mayoral colleague Murray; Daniel Bianchi; Sherwood Guernsey; and Pittsfield Councilors President Gerald Lee, Christine Yon and Melissa Mazzeo.

Field organizer Josh Hochberg said the vote drive would depend on "friend banks," to prevent people from being inundated with phone calls.

"Open up your cell phone, open up your address book and call your friends," he said.