To the editor:
I know Leigh Davis, I have worked alongside Leigh, I have watched Leigh work so very hard as Great Barrington’s Selectboard Vice Chair, and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Leigh is the only person running to fill Smitty’s seat that is truly qualified to represent the 3rd District. None can do the job better than Leigh.
We want Leigh to be our representative. We need Leigh to be our representative. I say this because I have seen Leigh be an incredible advocate for our community. Leigh brings attention to issues like no one else. And Leigh just will not stop until she gets it done.
We are disadvantaged on Beacon Hill. The 3rd District has one member for half of Berkshire County; Boston has sixteen representatives. Leigh will be heavily outnumbered, but I am sure that she will not be outmatched. The 3rd District needs Leigh’s voice to bring attention to our issues, like our lack of workforce housing, like our aging infrastructure, like safely cleaning the Housatonic – it’s a lengthy list. Leigh alone can bring attention to our causes and the tax dollars we will need to fix them.
When I was Chair of the Economic Development Committee, Leigh was Vice Chair. Leigh came to each meeting armed with a notebook of ideas, an iPad, and commitment to our economic development. I could not have asked for a better Vice Chair, and we can’t ask for a better 3rd District Representative.
As a very new member of the Selectboard, it was Leigh that fought to make sure that Great Barrington preserved local control to prevent horseracing at the Fairgrounds. Due to Leigh, a Special Town Meeting saved Great Barrington from a potential disaster. And when Leigh saw out-of-state LLCs coming into Great Barrington to turn our limited housing into mini-motels, Leigh fought for a short-term rental regulation.
Does Leigh sometimes step on toes to get things done? Yes. Do we want someone that may step on toes to get things done? Absolutely, yes. We want Leigh on Beacon Hill. And I have never seen Leigh on the wrong side of an issue.
The Democratic Primary is September 3rd. The other candidates are good people, but they just don’t have Leigh’s fire. Please join me in supporting Leigh.
Steve Picheny
Great Barrington
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