After Susannah Whipps recites her fifth oath of office this January, she will be joined in the state House of Representatives by Aaron Saunders, who on Tuesday won his bid to represent the newly designed 7th Hampden District.
Saunders, a Belchertown Democrat, defeated Republican James “Chip” Harrington the same night that Whipps, the only unenrolled or independent House member in the state Legislature, bested Republican challenger Jeffrey Raymond to secure reelection as representative for the 2nd Franklin District.
Meanwhile, Becket Democrat Paul Mark bested unenrolled candidate Brendan Phair to become senator for the Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden District.
“We felt pretty confident after seeing Athol’s and Orange’s numbers, but I never call anything until everybody has been accounted for,” Whipps said Wednesday, adding that Greenfield’s votes later put the numbers about 2-to-1 in her favor. “We were pretty confident we could call it a night.
“I’m just thrilled and humbled that they’ve chosen me to continue to serve and incredibly grateful to our clerks and all of the election workers, especially in some of the small towns that hand-count votes,” she said. “Many of them were working into the wee hours of this morning. It’s a long day. I’m incredibly appreciative of their efforts.”
Whipps said she had not heard from Raymond regarding the election results. Raymond, a Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School District School Committee member and former Athol firefighter, told the Greenfield Recorder he “didn’t see the need” to concede to Whipps because “the results were pretty obvious.”
Whipps, who is keen on reminding people Massachusetts is a commonwealth because “we’re here for each other,” said she wants to “focus on the common health of Massachusetts,” especially mental health.
Whipps was originally elected as a Republican but changed her voter registration in 2017 because two-thirds of her district’s voters aren’t affiliated with a political party. She believed the move better equipped her to work with legislators on both sides of the aisle.
Under the House of Representatives map that legislators redistricted last year, the 2nd Franklin District will consist of Athol, Orange, Erving, Gill, Northfield, Phillipston, Royalston, Warwick, Winchendon’s Precinct 1, and Greenfield Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9 come January.
“I’m really excited about the new district,” she said.
Whipps, a seventh-generation Athol resident, mentioned the new legislative session beginning the first Wednesday in January.
Saunders, a former Ludlow Selectboard member, said Tuesday’s win was the result of eight months of campaigning. He and Harrington announced on Facebook that Harrington called Saunders to concede and congratulate his opponent Tuesday night.
Saunders said he would like to focus on combating the opioid epidemic and the climate crisis, as well as establishing an east-west passenger rail in Massachusetts.
“There are a lot of specific needs that our communities are going to have,” he said.
Saunders served for seven years on the Ludlow Selectboard and spent six as the chief of staff for former state Sen. Gale Candaras.
“There’s going to be no shortage of work for us, that’s for sure. I’m going to be working my tail off for all of (my constituents),” he said. “It’s going to be a busy six weeks between now and (January). I’m so very grateful for the opportunity to serve.”
Saunders is a co-founder of Loophole Brewing, which opened in Ludlow about three months before COVID-19 restrictions went into place.
For Mark, his election to the state Senate marks the next step in his state political career, which began in 2010 when he was elected as state representative for the 2nd Berkshire District.
“I’m grateful to the people in Franklin County for the past 11 years. It’s been an amazing opportunity,” Mark said Wednesday afternoon, referencing that he received huge support from the communities he’s previously represented, while also earning plenty of votes from his new constituents. “It feels affirming and really exciting.”
In his new role, Mark will represent all of Berkshire County; the Franklin County towns of Monroe, Rowe, Charlemont, Hawley, Ashfield, Buckland, Heath, Colrain, Shelburne, Conway and Whately; along with the Hampshire County towns of Williamsburg, Goshen, Cummington, Chesterfield, Westhampton, Middlefield, Worthington and Huntington.
In the Senate, which has 40 members compared to the House’s 160, Mark said he will have a chance to forge new relationships with colleagues, while also serving as a chairperson on legislative committees. With these new opportunities, Mark emphasized the need to ensure that Franklin County and western Massachusetts are included in funding decisions.
“No. 1 is making sure we’re never forgotten in Boston,” Mark said. “Representing 57 different communities in the region, it’s easy for us to get overlooked. It’s been a battle on the house side.
“It’s exciting because I’m coming into the Senate with zero Senate experience, but I’m not a rookie,” Mark noted, adding that he is “eternally grateful” for the experience of working with Franklin County residents for the past 12 years , especially in Greenfield, which is not part of his Senate district.
Unopposed races
In the 1st Franklin District, incumbent Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Deerfield, retained her seat after she went unopposed in her reelection campaign. The same went for state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, in the Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester District, who was also unopposed in her reelection campaign.
After redistricting, the 1st Franklin District will be made up of the Franklin County towns of Monroe, Rowe, Charlemont, Hawley, Heath, Buckland, Ashfield, Conway, Shelburne, Colrain, Leyden, Deerfield, Whately, Sunderland, Leverett, Montague and a portion of Greenfield.
The Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester District will serve the Franklin County communities of Leyden, Greenfield, Deerfield, Gill, Montague, Sunderland, Leverett, Shutesbury, Wendell, Erving, Northfield, Warwick, Orange and New Salem. It will also contain Athol, Royalston, Petersham, Winchendon and Ashburnham in Worcester County. In Hampshire County, the district will represent Hatfield, Northampton, Hadley, Amherst and Pelham.
Franklin County Sheriff Christopher Donelan, the incumbent Democrat, was reelected to his position, as was Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan. The DA’s office serves all of Franklin and Hampshire counties, as well as Athol.
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081. Domenic Poli can be reached at dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.
