NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Andrew Fitch announced his run for state representative to an enthusiastic crowd on Tuesday morning. 

 

The two-term city councilor stressed his energy, commitment and campaign priorities of economic development, housing and regional relationships for the 13 communities in the 1st Berkshire.

 

"There are a lot of municipalities to be in, and I have that energy and drive and interest and love a good road trip," he said, speaking to the crowd at Steeple City Social, a popular lounge/cafe that he runs with business partner Meghan Daly. "A lot of people have asked me for my fresh energy and my fresh blood, and that is what I give to you, maybe not literally my blood, but I certainly get my fresh energy and ideas and drive."

 

Afterward, Fitch said he'd been approached several times over the past few years about running for state representative. But he was just getting on the City Council, opening a business and involved in community activities, so it didn't seem to be the right time. 

 

"Now that I have more time under my belt, I've been in two terms as a city councilor, and Steeple City Social is up and running and is almost a year old," he said. "It is now sustainable, not on its own, but without me having to work all the time here, I knew that I could take this on."

 

Fitch is mounting a Democratic primary challenge to John Barrett III, who won the seat in a special election in 2017 after the death of state Rep. Gailanne Cariddi. Since then, he's only had one primary challenger, Paula Kingsbury-Evans, a college student at the time, who he beat handily by 43 points. 

 

Fitch was raised in Marshfield and moved to North Adams five or six years ago — becoming immediately involved the community. He's a founder of North Adams Pride (now part of Berkshire Pride), a co-organizer of First Fridays and a board member of the North Adams Chamber of Commerce. A small-business owner, he's served on the Zoning Board of Appeals and for a short time on the Airport Commission, to which is now liaison from the council. 

 

"I literally wear many hats," he said, evoking laughter when he added that his campaign team wouldn't let him wear one of his signature head coverings. 

 

He was introduced by his mother, Sara Prouty, who greeted everyone coming through the doors of the Eagle Street lounge. 

 

"I can tell you, through his entire life, what I have heard over and over and over again, whether it be from his employers, whether it be from his third grade teacher, whether it be all the way through high school and college, that everyone says they've never met a more dedicated human being in their lives," she said. "He's dedicated to everything he does, what wonderful things he's done here in North Adams, we are just so proud of him."

 

Fitch filed with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance on Friday and launched his website on Tuesday as he was giving his first stump speech on "Fitch for the Future." 

 

Barrett said on Tuesday that he traditionally waits until nomination papers are available, next week, before making any announcements on re-election.   

 

"Up to this point, my focus has been fully devoted to serving as State Representative for the 1st Berkshire District," he said. "Over the next few days, I will be in Boston providing testimony on key bills, working on new legislation, and continuing to address constituent needs, while also focusing on the pressing issues facing our communities and the Commonwealth. This work remains my top priority."

 

He said he remains deeply committed to the 1st Berkshire District and confident in the direction of the work he is doing on behalf of the people he represents.

 

Fitch said he will continue serving as a city councilor, possibly completing his two-year term which started in January, or stepping down to let someone new serve. Fitch mentioned Cariddi, erroneously believing she had completed her City Council term. She did not. She resigned her seat before being sworn in as state representative in 2011. 

 

Attending the announcement was a majority of the City Council (Lisa Blackmer, Peter Breen, Alexa Macdonald, Bryan Sapienza, Lillian Zavatsky), former Mayor Thomas Bernard, Chamber members and other business owners, former school and city officials, and community members from Adams and Williamstown. 

 

"The things that I think are most important for our region are economic revitalization, economic opportunity.  ... There also is affordability. You folks have seen me talk a lot about housing affordability, but I want to talk more and focus more on affordability for parents, for families, affordability for our senior residents, affordability for all of our community," he said, noting his work creating an affordable housing trust through City Council. "And I want to talk a lot about collaboration, regional collaboration, cross-regional collaboration, building really solid relationships on Beacon Hill and all the way across the state to the Berkshires ... 

 

"If we work together, if we form solid relationships, we will be able to jointly advocate for things much more strongly, much better, much more effectively."

 

He said he's lived in a lot of places, including New York City, Boston, San Francisco, London and even Florence, Italy. 

 

"I've seen how other things have been done in other cities and towns and regions," Fitch said. "I've seen what's worked. I've seen what hasn't worked, and I bring all that experience, and also a great breadth of career experience with me to the Berkshires here, and so I can kind of see and take these learnings that I've had over the years and apply them to here and to bring fresh ideas and perspectives here and fresh energy as well."

 

He said he has contacted community leaders in the 1st Berkshire, and will be doing more outreach as the campaign launches. If elected, he plans on holding regular office hours and town halls to keep the North Berkshire communities informed. 

 

"I look around and I see there's so much opportunity around this region to make some improvements and to make things a little bit better, and to brighten things up a little bit, and to set ourselves up for a more bright, successful and affordable future for all of our residents," Fitch said.