Sen. Warren visits Pittsfield

PITTSFIELD – Freshly inaugurated United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) recently met with some of the area’s highest-ranking elected officials at Pittsfield City Hall before taking an hour-long tour of the city’s cultural district.

The Berkshires played a significant role in Sen. Warren’s successful campaign last year to oust Senator Scott Brown (R-Mass.). She won every community in Berkshire County and captured 71 percent of the vote. Sen. Warren only performed better in Suffolk County, which contains Boston.

During her visit to Pittsfield, she met with Pittsfield Mayor Daniel L. Bianchi; North Adams Mayor Richard J. Alcombright; State Representatives Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D-Pittsfield), Paul W. Mark (D-Peru) and Gailanne M. Cariddi (D-North Adams); State Senator Benjamin B. Downing (D-Pittsfield); Berkshire County Sheriff Thomas N. Bowler; and other community leaders.

Afterwards, Sen. Warren toured downtown Pittsfield, visiting such locations as Deidre’s Special Day, the Berkshire Museum, and the Colonial Theatre.

She seemed particularly taken by the Colonial Theatre, and it was suggested by the staff she return to see a show.

“It’s great to have the senator here,” said Mayor Bianchi in comments to The Beacon. “It’s a recognition of what The Berkshires meant to her campaign but also what it means to her and her mission in Washington, and I think she’s quite genuine when she believes…The Berkshires is going to be an important part of…the economic development of the 21st century of Massachusetts.”

“I think it was terrific that, obviously very early in her term, she wanted to make an effort to come to Pittsfield and to show that Pittsfield’s very much part of her constituency,” said 3rd Berkshire District Rep. Farley-Bouvier. “She asked a lot of great questions, and she gave people time to express what their views are for both local and national needs.”

“I think it’s great to have her out here, she clearly was out here to listen,” said Sen. Downing, who is considering a run for the United States Senate himself for the seat expected to be vacated by Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.). “She showed in her campaign that she listens first and then acts on that.”

Posted by Bera B. Dunau on January 10, 2013. Filed under Community News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry