NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Incumbent John Barrett III has announced his bid for re-election to the 1st Berkshire District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

 

Citing a lifetime of "serving, fighting for and believing in" the district, the former longtime North Adams mayor decided to make a bid to remain in the seat he has held since winning a special election in 2017.

 

"Over the last few weeks, I gave it a lot of thought, and I've talked to a lot of people," Barrett said in a telephone interview on Tuesday. "They've told me, if there's ever a time when we need experience and leadership, it's going to be the next co uple of years.

 

"I decided to go based on them more than anything else."

 

Barrett is challenged in the Democratic primary by Andrew Fitch, a current North Adams city councilor, who announced his bid on Feb. 3.

 

The state primary is scheduled for Sept. 1.

 

The Northern Berkshire legislative district includes the City of North Adams and the towns of Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida, Hancock, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, New Ashford, Peru, Savoy, Williamstown and Windsor.