Rep. Denis Guyer discussed his future plans at his office on Tuesday afternoon.
This is the first in a series profiling the unique individuals who compose the Berkshire delegation. Keep checking iBerkshires.com to see your representatives profiled.
DALTON - Responsible for the largest district in the state, Rep. Denis E. Guyer has his work cut out for him.
“One of my biggest challenges is the actual number of communities. Trying to be everywhere at once is a challenge in itself,†said the Dalton Democrat, who represents 21 towns in Berkshire, Franklin and Hampshire counties, in addition to Precinct B of Ward 1 in Pittsfield.
“Some weeks I wish it were smaller, but I have a very diverse district. I get to tackle issues relative to a city like Pittsfield and then issues relative to a town like Peru - it’s these vastly different problems that keep me very interested in the job,†he said.
Just A Normal Guy
Born and raised in Pittsfield, Guyer’s political career started with a simple desire to make a difference.
“I started as a person who was always interested in municipal government and when I moved to Dalton in 2000, I was told to put my money where my mouth is, so I ran for a spot on the Board of Selectmen,†said Guyer. “I wanted to and still want to change things for the better in my community.â€
After serving as chairman of the five-member board, Guyer thought he could help facilitate bigger change.
“When I first ran for state representative, I thought I’d never win,†said Guyer, who decided to challenge 14-year Republican incumbent Shaun P. Kelly in 2004 for the 2nd Berkshire seat. “I just thought I’d run and put on a good show.â€
Guyer ended up defeating opponent Richard S. Stockwell, who joined the race as the Republican candidate after Kelly dropped out. With 70 percent of the vote, Guyer easily declared victory. He was re-elected to a second two-year term last November by an even larger margin - garnering 88 percent of the vote.
But it wasn’t always so easy. Guyer, 41, and his two younger brothers were raised by a single mother, who was barely able to make ends meet. He joined the Air Force immediately after graduating from Pittsfield High School in 1985.
After six years in the military, Guyer took a job at Crane & Co. as a production worker, eventually becoming a purchasing agent. Until his election to the Legislature, Guyer continued to work at Crane.
He currently attends Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and is five classes shy of receiving a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Now, Guyer has little free time between his legislative duties and caring for his 4-year-old son, Charlie. When he does get a day off, he spends his time enjoying the outdoors or sitting at home watching the Red Sox.
“I’m just a normal guy and I was unhappy with the way things were going. I wanted to make changes,†he said.
Berkshire County Changes
With mostly rural communities in his district, Guyer, along with the rest of the Berkshire delegation, faces unique challenges, including the lack of broadband access in the western part of the state and dairy farm relief, two key issues in the Statehouse this year.
With legislative measures in place addressing these concerns, Guyer’s next biggest challenge is working on the development of environmentally-friendly and green technologies in Western Mass.
“I’m really focusing on the local growers, farmers, foresters and private landowners who live out here. I want to work to strengthen the relationship between local growers and alternative technology initiatives,†said Guyer.
With the impending construction of the Berkshire Biodiesel plant at the Ashuelot Park industrial area in Dalton and Pittsfield, Guyer believes the Berkshires will have the perfect opportunity to provide incentives and programs to allow the use of local harvested materials for biomass facilities.
“The environment is the makeup of my district. With the rivers and streams, the forested areas, the mountain ranges - I want to keep it in the forefront,†said Guyer, who serves on the House’s Joint Committee on Natural Resources, Environment and Agriculture.
As part of the cultural renaissance of the Berkshires, Guyer is proud that towns in his district are able to benefit from the new emphasis on a “creative economy.â€
“I think people have recognized that these cultural and tourism-related organizations are economic engines in communities. Some of the smallest towns are part of this creative economy,†he said, using Ashfield’s Double Edge Theatre as an example of a thriving cultural attraction in Western Massachusetts.
The Berkshires, Boston and Beyond
With at least one more year to serve, Guyer is excited to continue working for the people in his large and spread out district.
“I love my job,†he said. “I’ll do it as long as they have me.â€
Jen Thomas can be reached at jthomas@iberkshires.com or at (413) 663-3384, Ext. 23.
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Bell, Ogle Win at May Day Race in Dalton
Community submission
DALTON, Mass. -- Stefan Ogle was the top male 5-kilometer finisher and Lindley Bell the top female 5K finisher at the 2026 Community Recreation Association May Day Races on Sunday at Nessacus Middle School.
Ogle’s winning 5K time was 19 minutes, 7 seconds, Brady Payson was second in 19:41, and Lake Kittler third in 19:43. Bell’s winning women’s time was 23:56, followed by Kristy MacWilliams in 24:22 and Chelsea Smith in 29:20.
Girls led the Splatter Sprint mile race, with Payton Anastasio, age 11, the top overall finisher in in 8:07, 12-year-old Breelin Touponce second in 8:44 and 11-year-old Brooklyn Renderer third in 8:45. The top three boys were Jace Esposito in 8:54, Michael Londergan in 10:15 and Samuel King in 10:38.
In the kids’ Obstacles & Popsicles half-mile race for ages 6-8, 7-year-old Henry King was first in 4:00, 8-year-old Jake Vosburgh finished second in 4:01, while 7-year-old Maisey Reed was third in 4:31. Evan Vreeland was third among the boys in 4:41, while Cecelia Polson was the second-place girl in 4:37 and Harper Phelps was third in 4:40.
In the 5-and-under race, Jack Barbour was first among the boys in 4:38, Jackson Lavierdiere was second in 5:05, and Mae Cimini third in 5:10. Kennedy Phelps was the top girl in 5:14, while Laura Vosburgh was second in 5:57 and Olivia Shea third 5:58.
5K Race
1. Stefan Ogle, 19:07. 2. Brady Payson, 19:41. 3. Lake Kittler, 19:43. 4. Brian Ducey, 19:46. 5. Chaz Mahar, 21:35. 6. Philip Malm, 21:50. 7. Benjamin Ward, 22:48. 8. Bret Matthews, 23:11. 9. Robert King, 23:28. 10. Noah Aldrich, 23:50.
Cassidy Flynn scattered five hits in a complete-game effort in the circle as Lenox upset top-seeded Hoosac Valley, 3-2, in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament. click for more
Brayden Durant struck out seven and walked one in a complete-game effort on the mound Saturday to pitch the Drury baseball team to a 6-0 win over Keefe Tech in the quarter-finals of the Division 5 State Tournament at Joe Wolfe Field. click for more
Jason Codey struck out 13, walked two and allowed just an infield single as the Generals earned a 7-1 win over Wahconah to claim their third straight regional title. click for more
Gracelyn Wright struck out eight, and Genevieve Lagess went 3-for-5 with four runs batted in as the Hurricanes beat Monson, 17-3, to claim their first Western Mass title in four years. click for more
For the boys, Ward Bianchi helped lead the way with a win in the shot put and a second place in the javelin as the Mounties finished 16 points ahead of runner-up Pittsfield (pending the results of the pole vault, which were unavailable at 11 p.m. Friday night). click for more
