Starks, citing personal reasons, backs out of race against Ashe

April 28, 2016 | Chris Goudreau
cgoudreau@thereminder.com

EAST LONGMEADOW – Republican Town Committee Chairman Sid Starks recently announced he would not run against incumbent 2nd Hampden District state Rep. Brian Ashe after previously deciding to take out nomination papers.

Starks told Reminder Publications his decision not to run against Ashe was due to family concerns, specifically a recent incident with his elderly mother living in Kentucky.

“It’s unfortunate timing politically,” he explained. “The incident [came] literally hours after making the decision to run. However, I have always been guided by the belief that, in life, faith, family and friends are my guiding principals. Unfortunately, politics doesn’t begin with an ‘F’… Believe me, my mom’s more important than any election.”

He added he plans to spend time in Kentucky taking care of his mother and would not have enough time to put in the effort required to run against Ashe.

Starks said when he was first asked to run for state representative, he scoffed at the idea, but reconsidered due to Ashe’s lack of legislation regarding local economic growth.

“Brian’s a nice guy, but what has he done?” Starks noted. “He hasn’t really done any legislation that’s helped Longmeadow. He hasn’t done any legislation that’s helped East Longmeadow, Hampden, or Monson. We just had a major manufacturer in East Longmeadow that was looking to expand and add just under 100 jobs. His name was never brought up as an advocate helping to bring those jobs into the area.”

Starks said he believes the area needs legislation for economic growth.

“It’s easy to say, ‘We’re holding a committee meeting where we’re going to discuss economic growth,’ he noted. “Let’s take some responsibility.”  

He added, “We need to create a better business environment in Western Massachusetts that promotes entrepreneurship and job growth. As a small business owner, I know first hand the challenges and burden of taxes and regulations on businesses in Massachusetts.”

Starks, a former broadcaster for Channel 40 in Springfield, said he hasn’t ruled out running for the state representative seat in the future.

He added his communication background and expertise would have been valuable to the House of Representatives.

“Look at the problems we’ve had in East Longmeadow,” Starks said. “Look at the problems we’ve had between the selectmen and the town manager in Longmeadow. It all boils down to communication. Do I have all the answers? No. If I did I’d be living in a yacht down in Key West, but opening up the lines of communication and putting egos aside in East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, Monson, and Hampden that’s the key.”

Starks said he believes the job entails doing what’s right for the people, “not the self interest.”

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