The Berkshire Beacon to sponsor 4th District Representative debate

Politics may seem to be usual on the national level as well as the state level with Elizabeth (Herring) Warren and Scott P. Brown (R-Mass.) debating for the U.S. Senate seat formerly occupied by Edward M. “Ted” Kennedy (D-Mass.). Currently, Sen. Brown, a republican,  is the holder of the seat while  Ms. Warren, a democratic, seeks the post.

Here in Berkshire County, politics as usual is not the case.

Bera B. Dunau, reporter for The Berkshire Beacon has spent the last couple of days working on setting up a debate forum at the (historic) Lenox Library with a number of local personalities.

They include Mr. Dunau and Kameron Z. Spaulding from our staff, Edward P. Lane, a Lenox selectman and a retired Lenox postmaster, and Marianne R. Young, former Lenox school superintendent and current principal at Monument Mountain Regional High School in Great Barrington.

However, here in the 4th District of Berkshire County, the incumbent William “Smitty” Pignatelli (D-Lenox), has reservations about participating in a local debate forum with Lee Scott Laugenour of the Green Party, who has accepted our invitation.

Sometimes, the new upshot weekly does not have the respect of a local politician as far as circulation and possible endorsements. Today The Beacon’s circulation is growing along with our website, which has a number of hits.

As to our endorsements in the primary election, they each won.

Each candidate must decide where they are going to seek not only publicity but support from the voters. The date and time for the debate has yet to be set. Think about the one candidate that decides to pass, the other one will have the floor and more exposure. Meanwhile, the audience will be mulling over who they will vote for while sipping on coffee/tea and eating pastries. The point is giving to the one in attendance.

Our thanks to Sharon Hawks, librarian, who has opened the doors of the library to ensure that democracy works at the grassroots level. Mr. Pignatelli claims reservations – didn’t he say that he was willing to meet, debate anyone at anytime? Thus, the people of the fourth district want to hear from its elected official. And one can see by the make-up of the forum that no gunslingers were invited.

As to the editor, I will simply offer a welcome to the community and the voters from Berkshire and Hampden counties along with the candidates. The district includes the following communities: from (Berkshire County), Alford, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Marlborough, Otis, precinct 5B of Pittsfield, Sandisfield, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham and West Stockbridge; and from (Hampden County), Blandford, Chester and Tolland.

Posted by George C. Jordan III on October 4, 2012. Filed under Editorials,Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry