SPRINGFIELD – James “Chip” Harrington is making a second attempt to reach the state Senate by challenging incumbent Eric Lesser for the First Hampden and Hampshire Senate District seat.

The Ludlow resident serves on the School Committee and has been a member of the Board of Selectmen. He is a small business owner and serves as a special police officer for the Ludlow Police Department.

Harrington ran last time against Lesser and others and was eliminated in a Democratic Primary. This time Harrington will be on the Republican side of the ballot.

The district includes Belchertown, East Longmeadow, Granby, Hampden, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Wilbraham along with parts of Chicopee and Springfield. He made the announcement through a video on his Facebook page.

Two years ago, Harrington told Reminder Publications, he “ran as a moderate Democrat and I was proud to say that wherever I went.”

He believed he “felt some resistance” when he attended Democratic Party functions and said he has been impressed with the bipartisan approaches of Gov. Charlie Baker.

 He said, “A good idea is a good idea regardless of where it came from.”

He realized he was fiscally conservative although he was in line with many other ideals of the Democrats.

“I looked at Charlie Baker and said, ‘That’s me,’” he recalled.

He sees the state Republican Party and the national party as "two different entities.”

He said two measures approved by Lesser illustrate the difference between him and the incumbent. First he noted that Lesser voted in favor of the $1 billion bond the expansion of the Boston Convention Center. The second voter was in approval of the state potentially supporting the now dead Boston Olympic effort with tax dollars.

“He voted with the leadership rather than the district,” Harrington said. He added, “Votes like that disappoint me, they disappoint a lot of people in the area.”

Harrington continued, “My voting record is what’s in the best interest of the people I represent.”

As a former selectman and a School Committee member, Harrington said he understands how state decisions and unfunded mandates affect municipalities. For an example, he cited how changes in the state requirements for special education weren’t support by state funds, but rather cities and towns had to find additional monies in their budget.

“It’s a tough balancing act,” he said.     

Harrington said that he is not in favor of the Common Core curriculum and the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) test.

The explosion in heroin and opioid addiction is another concern for Harrington believes the large pharmaceutical companies should be held more accountable to help pay for the treatment addicts need. He also supports the creation of more treatment services for addicts.

As small business owner, Harrington said the state should do more to help encourage and grow local businesses.

Harrington criticized Lesser for lack of support for a bill that would decrease state filing fees for business and for the financial implications of east-west rail service that Lesser has championed.

“Where are the funds going to come from?” he asked.

Harrington will be officially kicking off his campaign from 6 to 8 p.m. on March 16 at the Iron Duke Brewery, 100 State St. in Ludlow.