PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Christine Canning describes herself as a "pit bull with lipstick" who will go to Boston and fight for Berkshire County.

 

The Lanesborough resident and educational consultant announced her candidacy for state Senate at the American Legion in Pittsfield Wednesday evening.

 

Canning is running as a Republican and will take on the winner of the Democratic primary, which features Adam Hinds, Andrea Harrington and Rinaldo Del Gallo. The Berkshire's seat is open because Sen. Benjamin Downing has opted not to run for re-election.

 

"I've been described as a pitbull and I am a pitbull. But a pitbull with lipstick. I plan to let Boston know that the state doesn't stop at Worcester and they are not doing us a favor by driving out to Springfield. We exist," Canning said.

 

Canning is running on a Republican platform focusing her attention on being a "constitutionalists," a supporter of gun rights, and bringing jobs back to Berkshire County. 

 

"I really believe the government shouldn't be in your private lives. I support guns. If those things are not in your conscience, then don't vote for me," Canning said.

 

She credited Republicans for "pushing the 14th Amendment," for putting the first woman in Congress (Jeanette Rankin), for abolishing slavery, and for passing civil rights bills under President Dwight Eisenhower.

 

(But her other Republican firsts were a little shaky: the first woman in the U.S. Senate was not a Republican but a Democrat, Rebecca Felton, as was the first Asian-American in Congress, Dalip Singh Saund, elected in 1957.)

 

"The word Republican, I am a Republican, has sounded like a dirty little word but the R stands for respect," Canning said.

 

"What has amazed me is how people have lost touch about what history has taught us about Republicans. The Republicans actually started up around 1854 because they were anti-slavery and they had it with the Democrats and their slavery. I have met women and African Americans and Asians who have said to me, 'oh Chris, I'm with the Democrats' and I say 'do you know your history?' " 

 

But in Berkshire County, Democrats have been in office for decades. She cited the common quote, "if you continue to do the same thing time and time again, that is the definition of insanity" as reason for change. She said that under Democratic representation, Berkshire County has become the 20th poorest county in the country (which is not accurate. It is, however, the poorest in the state.).  

 

"It's got to stop and I hope it stops with me," Canning said. "I have a lot of integrity and if I say I am going to go in and do it, I'm going to do it."

 

She said she already eyes being appointed to the influential Ways and Means, Education, and Public Safety and Homeland Security committees if elected. She opposes a proposed bill that will allow for illegal immigrants to receive driver's licenses, saying she fears that will lead to providing other benefits while veterans go without proper medical and mental health care. 

 

"We need the money coming in. We need sewers. There are basic things that I am seeing in developing countries that we do not have in Berkshire County, Franklin County, Hampshire and Hampden," Canning said. "If I can be the voice and get in there, I will say it and I won't back down."

 

Canning is CEO of New England Global Network LLC, a consulting firm for developing educational materials. She used to work at Taconic High School and was chairman of the English Department. She filed suit against the district claiming she was improperly fired for raising concerns about discrimination, drug use and violence amount students. That case was ultimately settled. She has a master's degree from West Virginia University in foreign languages and linguistics

 

"I'm highly educated. I have four graduate degrees, four teaching licenses, a superintendency license. But, I also have a heart of gold. I've been the whistleblower on three cases. I have gone to fight for the voiceless because I was blessed to get an education and be the voice of others. I have been the one to speak up and I will speak up again," Canning said.

 

Canning is the only Republican seeking the seat so she will not have a primary election.