1st Berkshire Candidates Meeting at Forum

FLORIDA, Mass. — Daniel E. Bosley's boyhood mountain home will be the setting for the first forum between Democratic candidates vying to replace him.

North Adams City Councilor Gailanne Cariddi; David Bissaillon, former president of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, and Chester Town Administrator Edward MacDonald, a former Adams selectman, will appear at the Florida Senior Center on Route 2 on Friday, April 30, at 7 p.m.

The forum is sponsored by the Florida Council on Aging and the Williamstown League of Women Voters. The moderator will be Williamstown Selectwoman Jane Allen. The public is encouraged to attend and to come prepared with questions.

Bosley is stepping down after 12 terms representing the 1st Berkshire District in the State House to run for sheriff.

With no Republican or independent candidate in sight, the winner of the September primary will likely be North County's new representative.

The 1st Berkshire seat covers Adams, Clarksburg, Florida, North Adams, Savoy and Williamstown, and Charlemont, Hawley, Heath, Monroe and Rowe in Franklin County. The candidates all hail from Berkshire County; Cariddi is a North Adams native and both Bissaillon and MacDonald are from Adams.

iBerkshires hopes to post audio of the forum by early next week.
 

Ware's Out

Margie Ware confirmed Wednesday that she was no longer in the race for the 1st Berkshire District.

The former Williamstown selectman had been among the first to announce that she would be taking out nomination papers to fill the seat being vacated by longtime Rep. Daniel E. Bosley.

"I really decided the day that Dave Bissaillon said he was running," said Ware. "I love public service and I don't even mind raising money ... but it's really hard for me to campaign."

The 60-year-old Democrat works full-time as regional director of health information programs for Elder Services.

Ware said her strategy depended on doing really well in Adams. That went by the boards when a favorite son in the Mother Town jumped in. The word she was getting back was that the former Berkshire Chamber director was all the talk in Adams.

She's been interested in higher office for some time and tried for state Senate in 2006, but lost the Democratic nomination in a crowded primary to now state Sen. Benjamin B. Downing of Pittsfield. In 2008, she was among several prominent local Democrats eyeing the 1st Berkshire seat when Bosley was considering a job in the Patrick administration.

Ware doesn't think there's a possibility of another spot opening up for her at this point in her life. It's difficult develop a base at the grass-roots level when you don't grow up here, she said.

In addition to Bissaillon, North Adams City Councilor Gailanne Cariddi and Chester Town Manager Edward MacDonald are running. Ware said she would not be endorsing any candidates.

The primary will be held Sept. 14; the winner will face any Republican or independent opponent who emerges. Nomination papers with 150 signatures must be filed by April 27.