To the Editor:
Last week, Senate candidate Andrea Harrington called on Adam Hinds to return campaign contributions he received from Boston and out of state lobbyists representing big energy conglomerates. Harrington then pointed specifically to donations from lobbyists for the New England Power Generators Association, Berkshire Gas, and ExxonMobil.
An email from the Hinds campaign and letter to the editor to the Berkshire Edge attempted to explain the context for two contributions, and Hinds said he would refund the ExxonMobil donation. This was a start, but Hinds missed the point.
Hinds has still never committed to returning the other three campaign contributions from the lobbyists for the New England Power Generators Association, Berkshire Gas, and Nouria Energy Corporation. One week later, he has remained silent on the issue. This is disappointing.
There is a big difference between exposing an inconsistency in someone’s record and negative campaigning. Hinds was caught red-handed, and in my opinion, has failed to do the right thing by refusing to return these contributions. Money from big energy has no role in campaigns in the Berkshires. We need a State Senator who has the guts to stand up to big energy, and that person is Andrea Harrington.
William D. Barry
Pittsfield
