Independents to figure strongly in state rep. races

Sunday October 31, 2010

Read the original article here.

Berkshire County voters have an eclectic mix of state representative races to settle on Tuesday, heavily influenced by independent or third-party candidates.

The most varied contest is the three-way battle to succeed state Rep. Denis E. Guyer in the 2nd Berkshire District, who isn't seeking re-election. Guyer's potential replacements are independent Stefan G. Racz, who lost to Guyer in 2006, Michael F. Case, the lone Republican in all the races, and Democrat Paul W. Mark, a surprise winner in the September primary.

The victor will represent 21 towns in Berkshire, Franklin and Hampshire counties and Ward 1B in Pittsfield.

Meanwhile the political contests in the 3rd and 4th Berkshire districts pit a pair of Green-Rainbow Party challengers against two Democratic incumbents who are well-established on Beacon Hill.

Mark C. Miller is seeking to unseat state Rep. Christopher N. Speranzo, who was first elected to the 3rd Berkshire seat in 2004. The district encompasses all of Pittsfield except for Precinct B in Wards 1 and 5.

The 4th Berkshire race features Lee Scott Laugenour battling fellow Lenox resident, state Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, who seeks a fifth two-year term. Pignatelli represents 17 towns in Berkshire and Hampden counties and Pittsfield's Ward 5B.

Gailanne Cariddi won the 1st Berkshire District race after her victory in a three-way Democratic primary. The North Adams city councilor has no opposition on Tuesday's ballot in her quest to succeed state Rep. Daniel E. Bosley. Bosley ran for Berkshire County sheriff and lost to fellow Democrat Thomas Bowler in the Sept. 14 primary.
Racz said his return to the 2nd Berkshire race as an independent was fueled by voter anger toward the partisan politics of Democrats and Republicans.

"People are totally angry with [party] politics as is and the way their money is being spent," he said.

Nevertheless, the nine-year selectmen from Buckland believes he still has to overcome the lack of a party designation with voters.

"I realize I'm climbing a 20-foot wall with a 16-foot ladder," Racz said.

While Mark doesn't view himself as a typical Democrat, he has received endorsements from several labor unions. Mark is a former union employee and one-time labor union leader while working for Verizon. He's now a licensed attorney from Hancock.

"I have a fresher approach to the issues and I'm not locked into a mindset," he said.

Mark also claims to have the ability to be more of a consensus builder on the issues than his two opponents.

"I've worked all over the state and if you don't care about what's happening in Boston, [Boston lawmakers] won't care about us," he said.

Case finds more voters want his party better represented in the Democrat-controlled Statehouse in order to bring financial stability to the commonwealth. If elected, the veteran and retired Pittsfield Police officer would be the only Republican Berkshire legislator.

"I do believe the Republican ideal of lower taxes will bring in more tax revenue to stimulate the economy," said Case. "This is the most interested I've seen voters in many years and I hope there's a large turnout at the polls."

Case current represents the town of Washington on the school committee in the Central Berkshire Regional School District. He was recently endorsed by the State Police Association of Massachusetts which represents 2,000 state troopers.

Meanwhile, the Green-Rainbow Party candidates in the 3rd and 4th Berkshire contests consider themselves legitimate contenders to better represent the county, but their Democratic opponents have questioned their motives.

"[Laugenour] started to run for state rep to boost the campaign of Jill Stein," Pignatelli said, referring to the Green-Rainbow challenger for governor. "The Green Rainbow Party has a snowball's chance in hell to make inroads on Beacon Hill."

"Absolutely I want to see the Green-Rainbow Party grow," admitted Laugenour. "But first and foremost I want to represent the 4th Berkshire District."

Pignatelli admits voters are angry at incumbents and he will probably feel it at the polls on Tuesday, but his experience is needed now more than ever in the Legislature.

"With the economy being the biggest question in Massachusetts, we're going to have to make some hard decisions in the upcoming year," said Pignatelli. He added that, if elected, he will be the senior member of the Berkshire County delegation.

Laugenour said the problem is the same people returning to Beacon Hill.

"We have not been well-served under the trickle-down philosophy the ruling parties have bought into, or cashed in on," said Laugenour of his candidacy. "Today's power brokers are failing us.

Miller, Speranzo's Green-Rainbow Party challenger, went a step further, accusing the Democrats of deceiving the Massachusetts electorate.

"We see ourselves as reformers as the Democratic leadership doesn't abide by the open meeting law," he said. Miller was the executive editor of The Eagle 15 years ago. "If [Laugenour and I] are elected, we won't be ignored as we'll be a threat to them."

While Miller advocates for change on Beacon Hill, he won't do it by capitalizing on the controversy surrounding Speranzo's job-hunting while running for re-election. Miller has avoided criticizing his opponent for reportedly seeking the vacant central Berkshire District Court clerk-magistrate position during the campaign. If Speranzo were re-elected and accepts the court position, he would leave the 3rd Berkshire seat, triggering a special election to fill the vacancy.

"I am running for the state representative office, not against Chris Speranzo," Miller had said in a recent interview with The Eagle.

Speranzo said he is finding voters don't care about the controversy, only what he's done for the constituents during his six years in office and will do for the next two years.

"I've brought $200 million back to the schools as education is important to the community," he said. "I've also been a leader on public safety issues and helped secure funds to revitalize downtown Pittsfield."

If elected, Speranzo said he will deal with unfinished business regarding the state's health care reform law.

"We've done a lot to make health care accessible, but not enough to make it affordable," he said.

To reach Dick Lindsay: rlindsay@berkshireeagle.com, or (413) 496-6233.