Berkshire County is in line to lose a Massachusetts statehouse seat, in line with proposed new district maps launched Tuesday. The draft plan is already having ripple results in Western Massachusetts politics.
Below the draft redistricting plan following the 2020 Census, the state Home seats held by John Barrett of the first Berkshire district and Paul Mark of the 2nd Berkshire district — each Democrats — could be mixed. That will drop the variety of Berkshire County delegates on Beacon Hill from 4 to 3.
Though Massachusetts’ inhabitants was up prior to now decade, many of the progress was within the japanese a part of the state, which Barrett acknowledged simply after the maps had been launched.
“Clearly I am dissatisfied that Berkshire County is shedding a seat within the Home. However I suppose it is only a signal of the instances. Our inhabitants is down,” Barrett mentioned. “The information, I suppose, is all of our delegation will probably be in Berkshire County, the three Home seats anyhow. In order that works out properly. My district, I suppose I’ve added 4 communities to get me as much as the extent I would like. However they’re good communities, I do know them properly, I represented them once I was a county commissioner a few years in the past. That is the excellent news of every little thing. It is pretty much as good as they may do.”
Democrat Tricia Farley-Bouvier represents the third Berkshire district and served on the Particular Joint Committee on Redistricting.
“Understanding that we have misplaced a Berkshire rep has an influence on all of us and we’re sorry to see that occur, however we’re under no circumstances stunned. This has been one thing that we knew was going to occur for years,” she mentioned. “Nonetheless, with the redrawing of the districts, the three robust Berkshire reps, we’re all within the Berkshires, no person else is within the Berkshires with us, no person is spilling over into districts in neighboring counties. I really feel actually good concerning the map.”
Meantime, state Senator Adam Hinds kicked off his marketing campaign for lieutenant governor in Pittsfield Wednesday. The second-term Democrat from the Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden district succeeded Ben Downing within the seat. Downing is now operating for governor.
These campaigns received off the bottom with out a choice from Republican Governor Charlie Baker and his Lieutenant Governor, Karyn Polito, about looking for a 3rd time period. It’s additionally unclear what second-term Legal professional Common Maura Healey, a strong Democrat, will do subsequent yr.
Hinds tells WAMC he’s able to take his message statewide.
“There’s a necessity for somebody from Western Mass to be in these positions,” Hinds mentioned. “Once more I hear each single day folks from out right here, ‘I’m from Western Mass, folks say the federal government doesn’t work for me, the programs don’t take note of me, I don’t have a voice.’ I wish to make it possible for the lieutenant governor and the federal government is governing for all of Massachusetts in each single nook.”
With Hinds looking for statewide workplace, it’s anticipated state Consultant Mark might run for the Senate seat. Mark has held the 2nd Berkshire district seat for a decade.
“It is unlucky, after all, though it was inevitable that because of the decline in inhabitants we have gone from perhaps six rep districts 30, 40 years in the past down to 3 now,” Mark mentioned.
Public touch upon the brand new maps is being taken by Monday, and the maps should be finalized subsequent month.
