West Stockbridge — Having been seated on the dais for the past two years, incumbent Andrew Krouss said he was approached by many of his constituents to serve another term. “My response to them was, ‘if you want me to run, I’ll run—I’m flattered,’” he said, officially declaring his candidacy on March 21.
Born in New York City and a graduate of the University of Akron, Krouss said he and his wife relocated to the Berkshires from Westchester, N.Y. in 2012. However, his family is from North Adams, and his father matriculated at Drury High School, so Krouss’ “roots” are indeed in the Berkshires.
“This may sound a little corny but it’s true–I’m very loyal and devoted to West Stockbridge,” he said. “I’m clear thinking. I’m always interested in what is the best solution to any problem that arises as far as it pertains to our town.”
Krouss said he is a self-appointed “ambassador of goodwill, peace, and harmony,” a label that stems from a Broadway musical he saw many years ago, “Oklahoma.” “There was a number in there called ‘The Farmer and the Cowman Should be Friends,’” he said. “That’s basically what I’d like to see. People of different backgrounds and generations—I’d like to see everybody to be kind and thoughtful towards one another. Now, you don’t have to love everybody, but you do have to be kind and thoughtful. I think that’s something that has to be worked on in our town and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Krouss is intent on bringing broadband to the West Stockbridge downtown area, a benefit that “will allow everybody to have the ability to hook up to the internet.” The issue is a serious concern for local businesses, with a focus group assembled to continue exploring adding the amenity to the community, he said. “It will certainly tie in a lot of areas,” Krouss said of the project.
Along with broadband and promoting goodwill locally, he said his priorities include affordable housing plans for the community and ensuring the town is “financially in good shape.” Krouss previously served on the town’s Finance Committee. “Fortunately, we have a lot of good people on the Finance Committee who know what they’re doing so we don’t run into some of these problems like some of the other towns have in the past,” he said.
