NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Former mayoral candidate Rachel Branch took out papers on Thursday to make another run at the corner office. 

 

She released the following statement announcing her candidacy:

 

Earth Day, especially on Earth Day, it is an honor and a privilege to be a candidate for mayor of the City of North Adams. This campaign, once again, is about equality, equality for women, standing up and speaking out for the most vulnerable, standing up and speaking out for our children, standing up and speaking out for everything my entire life is about.  

 

When I became a candidate for mayor of North Adams in 2017 and again in 2019, I was only the second woman in North Adams history to become a candidate ... since 1895! Women have never achieved equality in this city or in our country; and because of the COVID-19 pandemic, women's loss of jobs, and the needs at home for child care and care of parents, are nearly insurmountable. In these horrific times, we need a mayor who will strongly address the real issues facing North Adams and this country. If elected, I intend to do just that.

 

In my lifetime work, I have been a mayoral appointee five times — in Denver, Bridgeport, Conn.,, and in North Adams. In North Adams alone I have served as a Fair Housing commissioner for six years total; filled out a term as a North Adams Housing Authority commissioner; served on the Board of Directors of Berkshire Family & Individual Resources (BFAIR) for two years and spent another year as a member of its Human Rights Committee; was elected to a four-year term on the Northern Berkshire Vocational Regional School District/McCann School Committee, and spent nine years as a respite foster-care parent with 23 children coming to my home. 

 

My public service has also included creating and producing a community television program, "Solutions Rising," which is now in its ninth year, and as a co-producer of a community radio station program, "Jazz Oasis," now in its third year.

 

Since 2014, as part of the North County Cares Coalition, I have continued to work for the return of a full-service hospital with beds and will continue to attempt to solve this problem that affects over 37,000 Northern Berkshire residents. The history of this work is documented in many "Solutions Rising" programs and as a member of the April 4th Coalition program, both on Northern Berkshire Community Television.  

 

There is no question that climate catastrophe is upon us and must be addressed now. Since 1997, I have been protesting and working against climate catastrophe and the public health and public safety most seriously affecting children and the toxic environment surrounding them. Every aspect of our lives, including food insecurity, growing starvation, housing needs, education, health and economic survival are all at stake if we do not address climate catastrophe head on NOW!    

 

By myself, I presented a resolution passed by the North Adams City Council supporting the cities and towns that were opposing the Kinder Morgan/Tennessee Gas Pipeline, which many of us across the commonwealth and the Northeast valiantly stood in opposition to for several years before achieving success. I will continue working against polluters in any way possible and will have the ability to expand that work if I am elected as your mayor.  

 

Experience matters, background matters, and public service in every arena possible really matters. The breadth of my life's work stands the test of time of what real public service is and what real public service demands. Earth Day could not be a more meaningful day to highlight and announce my candidacy for mayor of North Adams. 

 

Campaign statements can be sent to info@iberkshires.com.