Stephanie Bosley Announces Campaign For State Representative
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Stephanie Bosley is looking to follow in her father's footsteps.
The 29-year-old Democrat announced her campaign for state representative, a seat her father held for 24 years. She becomes the first to announce a campaign in the special election to fill out the term of Rep. Gailanne Cariddi, who died on June 17.
"I wish I was running under different circumstances. I considered Gail a mentor and I envisioned that if I did run for state rep. she would be there as a mentor," Bosley said.
Bosley has most recently worked at 1Berkshire in client relations. There she worked with businesses to make sure they understood their membership and what type of resources are available to help them grow.
"I got to see how big of an impact the creative economy and tourism is," Bosley said.
That experience has led to one of her top priorities: workforce development.
She hopes to craft policies that will align education and job training with not only the companies in the 1st Berkshire District now but also those who could potentially move here. Bosley would like to work close with MCLA and McCann to align the curriculum to suit business development needs.
"We need to make sure our workforce is ready for the jobs that are available and couple potentially be available," Bosley said.
The North Adams native has previously worked with the American Cancer Society, the town of Adams' Community Development Office, the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, and the Northern Berkshire Neighbors. She worked with AmeriCorps at the former COTY youth center.
She grew up and was educated in North Adams before going to UMass Amherst to receive her Bachelor's Degree in political science, and then later the McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at UMass Boston for her Master's Degree in Public Affairs.
She moved a little bit after school when she worked with AmeriCorps, but eventually, she ditched the city life in Boston to return home in 2013. Now she lives in North Adams with her husband, Josh Meczywor, and has been involved with the North Adams Democratic City Committee.
"It is a really special time to be in the Northern Berkshires," she said, highlighting the energy behind and the successes of the creative economy including the expansion of the Mass MoCA and the Clark Art Museum.
Bosley had always had it in the back of her mind to run for state representative because she grew up talking shop with her father. Now she feels she is professionally in a position to make the jump.
"I've always been interested in the state representative seat. Growing up with my dad in the role, I saw the impact a state rep could have on the Northern Berkshires," Bosley said.
Her father Daniel Bosley represented the First Berkshire District from 1987 until 2011. He stepped away from the seat to run for sheriff but was defeated by Thomas Bowler.
The seat would be Stephanie Bosley's first elected post, but one she that suits her interest. Her political interest had been focused on state-level policy.
A particular positive impact on the county would be for an improved transportation system, she said. That is another specific area of focus she said she'd like to bring to the office.
"It takes about an hour to get to North Adams from Pittsfield on the bus and it is costly," she said.
Bosley has taken a leave of absence from her job and is focusing full time on her campaign. There have been talks of others jumping into the race, but Bosley is the first to announce an actual bid for it.
The special election will be on Nov. 7 to fill out the remaining year of Cariddi's term.
Tags: election 2017, special election, state representative,
