Becket — The four candidates for running for state representative in the 3rd Berkshire District took part in a candidates forum at Becket Town Hall on Tuesday, June 18. The four candidates are vying for State Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli’s (D – 3rd Berkshire District) seat.
Back in February, Pignatelli announced that, after 22 years in office, he would not be running again. The event was organized by the Becket Democratic Town Committee, and organizers said that residents from 11 Berkshire County towns attended the event. The four candidates who participated in the event were Democrats Leigh Davis, Vice Chair of the Great Barrington Selectboard and Stockbridge Select Board members Patrick White and Jamie Minacci and independent candidate Marybeth Mitts, who is a member of the Lenox Select Board.
The event was not a debate, but instead took the form of a question-and-answer session. The questions from event attendees were given to event moderator and Becket Town Committee Chair Nancy Chassman to read to the candidates. Candidates were asked which bills in this legislative session were their central focus.
“I think that the Economic Development Bill and the Housing Bond Bill are the two of the most important bills [right now],” White said. “You have to kind of remember that 5,000 bills get filed a year, and only a handful gets passed. We’re not exactly great at legislating at the State House.
I like what the economic development bond bill is about because .
