Berkshire Leaders Take Field for 1st Franklin's Kulik
 State Rep. Stephen Kulik at Wahconah Park on Saturday. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — State Rep. Stephen Kulik knows the Berkshires and for the last decade has fought on the county's behalf.
Even though it isn't his district.
The 1st Franklin District representative from Worthington has formed close ties with not only the Berkshire County delegation but educational and social leaders as well.
On Saturday, Berkshire leaders took him out to a ballgame to show their appreciation and help fundraise for his next election campaign.
"He's our fifth representatives. We always consider him part of the Berkshire delegation," state Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, D-Lenox, said at Wahconah Park before the first pitch of the Pittsfield Suns game. "He's a good personal friend to all of us."
Pignatelli said the Democratic Kulik, who is the vice chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee on which Pignatelli also sits, has been instrumental in helping with funding for tourism, hospitals and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts among other issues.
James Stakenas, MCLA's vice president of administration and finance, and Jim Canavan, husband of MCLA President Mary Grant, were there show their support, saying he was a good friend to the institution.
The Berkshire delegation exchanges the favor with Kulik by supporting issues he takes to the House floor, forming a Western Mass alliance.
Kulik's district covers the towns of Conway, Deerfield, Leverett, Montague, New Salem, Shutesbury, Sunderland, Wendell, Whately, Belchertown, Chesterfield, Goshen, Huntington, Pelham, Williamsburg and Worthington. Those towns, the majoirty small and rural, have a lot of similar issues as the Berkshires — such as regional school transportation.
"All of the Western Mass counties have as many representatives as the city of Boston and they all work together. So we have to [work together] or otherwise, our individual voices could get lost," Kulik said. "A lot of the issues that are very important to the Berkshires, are important to my district."
For state Rep. Gailanne Cariddi, D-North Adams, who is a relative newby to Beacon Hill now serving in her second term, Kulik has provided more than just an extra voice.
"He's the first person I go to when I have a question," Cariddi said.
She added that Kulik is no stranger to the county. She has seen him spending his personal time in various parts of the county.
"He likes the Berkshires and he knows the Berkshires," Cariddi said.
The 52-year-old Kulik was elected to the House in 1992, previously serving as a Worthington selectmen and Hampshire County commissioner. He also is vice chairman of Joint Ways and Means.
Kulik said he lives only 30 minutes outside of Pittsfield so he comes to the city for shopping and entertainment. He said he knows how important tourism is to the economy here and tries to support the Berkshire delegation's efforts.
 Mayor Daniel Bianchi greeting Kulik. |
"I try to help out the Berkshire representatives when I can. I am someone they can come to when they need advice or to move things through the Ways and Means Committee," Kulik said. "I've always had a strong affinity with the Berkshires."
An organization such as Soldier On is an example of how the two districts mesh. While Soldier On does not have housing units or services in Kulik's district, many of his constituents benefit from it.
"It's just an amazing organization and a growing one," Kulik said. "I am just so impressed with what Soldier On does."
Soldier On receives funding from the state, so Kulik's support goes a long way. The Suns were also having a fundraiser on Saturday for Soldier On, so CEO Jack Downing headed the idea to hold the fundraiser at the ballpark.
"We like to say thank you to people who help us. And it isn't just Soldier On, he does a lot for Berkshire County and we brought all of those people together to say thank you," Downing said.
Tags: Berkshire delegation, representative, state officials, ways & means,
