To the Editor:
Adam Hinds and Andrea Harrington share progressive positions on most issues in their campaigns for the Democratic nomination to the open Massachusetts Senate seat. Both have a variety of experiences to bring to the job.
Adam Hinds is problem solver and doer as former United Nation peace negotiator and community organizer in Pittsfield and North Adams. His approach to the senate will build on the work of Ben Downing and the Berkshire legislative team to bring programs and solutions to western Massachusetts.
Andrea Harrington is a self-described “advocate” who will “fight for western Massachusetts.” Too often, though, that advocacy has turned adversarial. There is a place for vigorous advocacy such as on the pipeline but an effective senator will need to temper advocacy with vision, collaboration, and compromise. Everything I have read and heard from Ms. Harrington during this campaign has slanted toward the adversarial. Has she thought about how she will work with legislators in Boston while representing the largest senate district in the state? I do not believe the next senator will be successful by demanding that western Massachusetts get more.
I am supporting Adam Hinds because of his experience in creating shared visions with others to reach successful outcomes for all. As the Berkshire Eagle said in their endorsement he has the best potential to “evolve into a senator along the lines of Senator Downing” with the versatility to take the lead in Boston on a variety of issues important to the region.
Fred Clark
Great Barrington
