PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's been less than a week since the primary and the campaigns for the general election have begun.

 

The candidates for the two state races — for the Senate and the House of Representatives — held the first forum heading into the November general election Wednesday night.

 

Democratic Tricia Farley-Bouvier, the incumbent, is being challenged by independent candidate Christopher Connell for the 3rd Berkshire District in the House of Representatives. Democratic Adam Hinds is up against Republican Christine Canning-Wilson for the state Senate's Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden District.

 

The first forum, held at Conte Community School, was put on by the local branch of the NAACP.

 

"We felt this was really important for our community to really hear your views. These are the kind of questions we really wanted to bring in, which we didn't hear at the debates during the primary," said President Dennis Powell. 

 

The 90-minute long forum was moderated by Will Singleton, who fielded questions from the audience as well as questions the organization prepared. He led off with simply asking what the legislators do while in office. 

 

"You try to find people who have things in common and work on issues together because nobody can do something alone in the Legislature," Farley-Bouvier said, after outlining how outnumbered the Berkshires are in the Legislature with just four representatives out of 160 and one senator out of 40.

 

Farley-Bouvier said working on the Progressive and the Gateway Cities caucuses is an example of how she is able to find other lawmakers with common ground who can work together. 

 

Connell said he'd have no problem working in the Legislature because he has the ability to work with people, as he has done on the City Council for the last five years. But, if elected, his focus would be on working with the Legislature in bringing more resources to Pittsfield.

 

 "When I am elected I feel I will be much more aggressive in pursuing funding that we definitely need for this city. We are at a financial cliff right now and we are about to fall off," Connell said. 

 

He said the city is nearing its tax ceiling, which means between the bonds for Taconic High School and contractual obligations, "big projects without state aid do not get finished." His focus would be on getting more resources for the city.

 

Canning-Wilson, who was unable to attend because of illness but phoned in to participate, boasted of her time working on international contracts for the U.S. government in the United Arab Emirates to show she has the ability to work on all levels and types of governments. But maybe more importantly for Canning-Wilson, is she said, "Not only do I listen, I actually do. I put my money where my mouth is."

 

"I have no problem exposing the corruption and nepotism," Canning-Wilson said.

 

Hinds said going into Boston outnumbered in the State House exemplifies the need for a "strong voice if we are going to be competing." He said he's been part of negotiations in Syria and Iraq during his time in the United Nations, showing his diplomatic ability and strength in going into tough negotiations. But, further, he said the job entails playing a convener role.

 

"You are also playing a strong role in the district.," Hinds said.

 

Absent county government, the Senate seat is the closest thing Berkshire County has to address issues countywide. He feels he has the ability to bring people from all across the county together.

 

The city of Pittsfield has been cited for having a lack of diversity in its workforce — specifically in the school system and in City Hall. Singleton said the NAACP believes those government bodies should reflect the demographics of the community it serves, but right now it doesn't. The discussion about affirmative action type programs, Singleton said, is on one side white people who say jobs are being given to underqualified people while others are saying such a program is only fair to crack the culture and institutionalism that denies equally qualified candidates of color an opportunity.

 

All four candidates agreed that the city is woefully behind in diversity.

 

"In the past two years, we have made some in-roads in addressing this problem citywide. We re-established the affirmative action advisory committee and we've committed as an ordinance an affirmative action policy that had been dormant," Connell said. "We have a monitoring system with the commission right now and we are starting to correct that problem ... We have made some in-roads but there is still much more work to be done."

 

Farley-Bouvier said on a state level she has been a constant advocate for funding for the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. Locally, she said she is supportive of the Greylock Fellows program, a partnership between the city schools, the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Greylock Federal Credit Union. The program gathers a cohort of students and gets them into college courses to become teachers, creating a pipeline of local graduates coming back to teach.

 

"There is an effort made to have students of color to be part of this cohort," Farley-Bouvier said. "I think the best thing we can do is grow our own teachers right here in our community."

 

Canning-Wilson said she's already been working on the issue. As part of a 2006 whistleblower case, she said she stood up against discriminatory practices in the public schools. But it isn't good enough, she said. She cited an example of a well qualified teacher being denied an interview in the past and claimed that if acting Police Chief Michael Wynn was white, he would have had a permanent placement in the position years ago. (Both the police and fire chief in Pittsfield are "acting" to avoid Civil Service requirements.)

 

"If I am in Senate I am going to address these things and we are going to change it because I believe in equity," Canning-Wilson said.

 

She added that when she worked in the school system there were just four people of color teaching out of 800 or so. Now, there are only around 22, she said, and that isn't enough.

 

Hinds said the dialogue around ending generations of institutional racism is one that needs to happen in every city and state. He said there is legislation in effect requiring a certain percentage of state contracts go to minority or women-owned companies. Pittsfield companies often don't have the ability to get those contracts because of the lack of diversity. He said there needs to be a focused effort on increasing the number of minority-owned businesses. 

 

When it comes to economic, Hinds focused on the need for job training and services to help get those in poverty-stricken areas connected with employers. He said the most impoverished census blocks in Pittsfield are in the downtown areas and the focus would be to create programs like he created in North Adams to find the barriers to employment — whether it be lack of child care of transportation — and break them down. 

 

"We have to get basic infrastructure right. Sometimes it is transportation, right now we are talking about workforce development," Hinds said. "We know every day in Berkshire County we have 2,000 available jobs and every day there are people looking for jobs." 

 

Canning-Wilson said she has a "15-point" plan for economic growth. Part of that includes promoting minority and women-owned business enterprises. She also said she is looking to strengthen MCAD and general laws to stop discrimination because of age, color, or national origin.

 

"I would like to fund MCAD so we can fight discrimination," she said.

 

The question also asked about climate justice, in which Canning-Wilson said often families can't afford to do solar panels and the state needs to be careful when it comes to promoting such energy sources so as not to burden the lower income families.

 

For the environment, Connell said the state needs to look at newer technologies such as biowaste to energy, which can become fuel for vehicles. As for the economy, he too cited a lack of skilled workers. He said many employers get applications for jobs in which the candidates don't have the knowledge or can pass a drug test. He said the new Taconic High School and its partnership with Berkshire Community College and then ultimately the Berkshire Innovation Center will provide that pipeline for students to acquire the skills and find a job.

"The problem we have here in Pittsfield and pretty much in Berkshire County is we have jobs. At last count there were 1,800 jobs unfilled. The problem is we don't have a trained workforce in most cases. Workforce development is the key. Education is the key," Connell said.

Farley-Bouvier agreed with the impacts of the new Taconic High School but said when she toured the facility, "It was clear that of the dozen and half, 20 students, there were no students of color." Often minorities are in the trades of cosmetology or culinary that will pay less than jobs in advanced manufacturing. 

 

As for the climate, Farley-Bouvier said the state needs to accelerate its use of renewables to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels.

 

"If we can bring those electricity costs down, we can help our companies here who can grow and hire more," she said.

 

The two Democrats and Connell are all in opposition of Question 2 that would raise the cap on the number of charter schools. Canning-Wilson, however, said those schools have shown better outcomes and the state should be spending its money on promoting the best schools.

 

"If you are saying no it is because you are more pro-MTA and more pro-teacher. Charter schools actually help children. They've been shown to create active participation, to increase student's score. Yes, it takes money out of the budget but who is the money in the budget for? It is for the children. If the administration is not performing, then why are we paying for nonsense?" Canning-Wilson said. "Let's give it to the best schools and let parents decide what is best for their children."

 

Farley-Bouvier said the issues with increasing the number of charter schools is that the formula takes money from the regular public school system and allocates it to the charter schools. Further, she said the charter schools have not lived up to their intention of sharing best practices with the public schools.

 

"I am not against our local charter school. That's running, the students are there. I don't seek to harm that school in anyway. I just say we don't need more charter schools in Massachusetts," Farley-Bouvier said.

 

She added that with the ballot question, "There is enormous amount of money being spent on Question 2. Most of the money is coming from outside Massachusetts. Most of the money is dark money, we don't know who is giving that money for the campaign to raise the cap. People should be very, worried about that." 

 

Hinds said the biggest issue with charter schools is the funding formula. He said "people aren't clamoring for more charter schools" in Berkshire County. He said there is "low hanging fruit" the Legislature can go after with a foundation budget review to help the traditional public school districts with money.

 

Connell said the time just isn't right for more charter schools. He said the public schools are leaving for charter schools and negatively impacting programming.

 

"I think that before we go forward with anymore in the future, let's make our public schools right first because we go forward with another experiment," Connell said.

 

Singleton said there has been a growing issue of landlords on the West Side not repairing apartment buildings in a timely fashion. He asked what the candidates could do to help.

 

"Anything that does not meet the minimal building code, tenants have the right to call the health department and have them come in and there cannot be any retribution," Connell said.

 

Connell sits on the board for the Rental House Association of Berkshire County and said there are programs that landlords should be taking to understand their responsibilities. 

 

Farley-Bouvier said that is another part of the environmental justice. She said there are protections and places to go in that situation but it comes down to building a community of advocates.

 

"It doesn't matter who you are, you have the right to live in a clean and safe place," Farley-Bouvier said.

 

Canning-Wilson said she knows that is happening. She told a story of a student of hers who was living in deplorable conditions and she contacted state Sen. Benjamin Downing and the issue was ultimately resolved. But, "not everybody has a Christine Canning or a Ben Downing helping them."

 

She advocated for legal help and showing people that they have the power to withhold rent in certain conditions to force the landlord to make repairs.

 

"We need of have proper housing for our people, end of discussion," Canning-Wilson said.

 

Hinds said with his work at the Pittsfield Community Connect, he too has seen poor conditions first hand. At the state level, he said he would ensure that there is the legal framework to provide residents the ability to have safe housing. But beyond that, the community has to be empowered to take a stance.

 

"To me there is a huge impetus for everyone to be involved at all levels," Hinds said. "We are all in this together."

 

Pittsfield has recently been admonished by the state for higher suspension rates among African American students on individualized education plans and instances of falling behind on closing the achievement gap.

 

When asked for a plan to address those concerns, Connell said he would have to give it more thought and craft a plan with other stakeholders. 

 

Canning-Wilson said the achievement gap is often related to socioeconomics and suspension rates are often due to "ignorant teachers." She called for every child to have an individualized educational plan and that teachers have a better understanding of where the students are coming from.

 

Farley-Bouvier cited programs that help with literacy and cultural competency as being keys to turning the tide. She supports the Marilyn Hamilton Youth Sports and Literacy Program, which helps stop the "summer slide" in literacy among the youth. She supports the Pittsfield Promise which is eyed to ensure every child is reading at a third-grade level by the time they get there. And she supports the city's hiring of a cultural competency coach to help get teaching thinking and more aware of inherent bias.

 

"We've got to explore those things and we have to put ourselves out there," Farley-Bouvier said. "We need to look at hard at those statistics and we need to hold our school system and as a city accountable."

 

Hinds said that there are studies that show the income of parents will determine the lifelong earnings of their child.

 

"There is something fundamentally wrong about that," Hinds said.

 

He supports universal preschool. When it comes to punishment, he said that needs to be fixed. He said there is an escalation effect when police and courts are involved and said he's worked with programs that are intended to keep children away from the court system. 

 

 "The data is out there. It is clear for anybody to see ... When you see that disproportionate disciplinary for youth of color, we need to figure that out," Hinds said. 

 

When it comes to committee preferences, Farley-Bouvier said she has sat on some important committees already being the Children Families and Persons with Disabilities and the Mental Health and Substance Abuse. 

 

"That is a big issue when it comes to economic development — so many employers are having trouble hiring people because of the opioid crisis. It is actually their No. 1 concern right now," she said of her work on the Mental Health and Substance Abuse committee.

 

But, she would also like a seat on the Economic Development Committee in hopes to bring the concerns from the Gateway Cities caucus there.

 

Canning-Wilson said she'd serve well on the Steering and Police Committee, would like Ways and Means, but would really want to be on the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading so she could read "what nonsense if getting passed" and put a halt to it. She also said she'd like to serve on the Ethics, Higher Education, and Joint Committee on Children Families and Persons with Disabilities.

 

Hinds said he'd like to follow in the footsteps of Downing by serving on the Utilities, Energy, and Telecommunications committee to help move broadband expansion along.

 

"We still have a long way at making sure town choice is a priority and affordable," he said.

 

But, he also wants a role in "getting funding right for our schools" and would welcome a role on Education.

 

Connell said he'd want the Community Development and Small Businesses. 

 

 "Small business is what is going to help us grow here in Pittsfield. GE is not coming back. We need to help our small businesses and help them grow," Connell said.

 

He said the Berkshire Innovation Center is a good start in helping small businesses but there is still more to be done. He also cited the city's work in establishing a small business fund to loan emerging businesses startup costs. He'd like to take those concepts to the state.

 

When asked about substance abuse and going after drug dealers, Canning-Wilson said "We have a lot of people who close a blind eye, people who are taking bribes." She also said courts are giving too soft of punishments. The way to combat the issue is the focus on the age groups getting into gangs and drug dealing and have open discussions about it and teach the students that there is more to life that drug dealing.

 

"We need to work even tighter with the school district," she said. "We need to teach them there is more."

 

Farley-Bouvier said she does not believe in mandatory minimum sentences and that each drug case needs to be looked at separately. The courts need to hold those who are taking advantage and infiltrating the community to make money on drugs accountable and provide for the recovery treatment for those who are selling just to support their own habit.

 

"We passed a law that said that insurance companies have to pay for at least 14 days of detox and treatment," Farley-Bouvier said, hoping that will be expanded to four weeks. "We need to be able to have as many options for people to get treatment as possible."

 

Connell said often the punishments are not meeting the seriousness of the crime and that busting drug deals can take months to build a case.

 

"They just can't go in there, on somebody's hearsay, and go in and bust down the down and start making arrests... it is a long drawn out process," Connell said.

 

But, "drug busts are more often made at traffic stops than any other time" and that's why he supported an increase to the city's Police Department budget to create a traffic unit to make more arrests to stop the dealers.

 

Hinds hammered home the seriousness of the problem saying in Pittsfield there were more than 150 overdoses last year, half of them amount people in their 20s, and 35 deaths. 

 

"We know there are plenty of other people who overdose are revived and refuse to go to the hospital," Hinds said.

 

He supports drug courts because "not all dealers are created equal. Some are very clear about the business aspect and others are supporting a habit." He also cited his work in North Adams to get Narcan in the hands of first responders and "within five days they had seven applications on four individuals." He said he would partner with all of the agencies involved to provide the right treatment for users.

 

When it comes to senior citizens, Farley-Bouvier said the focus would be on keeping people healthier. She supports the age-friendly efforts and working on laws to ensure proper insurance coverage.

 

Connell said it calls comes down to funding. In the budget he said his goal was to reduce in other areas to ensure that the human services  line, which helps fund Elder Service, UCP, the Christian Center, and more which provide help for seniors. As for the cost of drugs, he said "single-payer is the way to go" as well as making access to the more inexpensive pharmaceutical drugs available in Canada.

 

The Republican Canning-Wilson surprisingly cited support for single-payer and called for a public option. Further she said "you need an advocate to walk you though what I call the red tape labyrinth." 

 

Lastly, she said "we have to make sure people of bordering states are not using Massachusetts addresses to use Mass Health and suck up our money."

 

Hinds said when it comes of health care, 40 percent of the state budget is allocated to it. Now is the time for single-payer, he said.

 

"There have been studies that show you could save $12 billion... in efficiencies in administration of health costs. Let's get serious about it," Hinds said.