WESTERN MASS. – On Nov. 3, Republican state Rep. Nicholas Boldyga will go head-to-head with Democratic candidate Kerri O’Connor for the Third Hampden District seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

The Third Hampden District consists of Agawam, Southwick and Granville.

Boldyga, who bested Agawam City Councilor Dino Mercadante during the September Republican Primary, has held this position since 2011, and is seeking re-election. O’Connor, meanwhile, is in her second term as an Agawam School Committee Member. She’s also an Auxiliary Agawam Veteran’s Council member.

In preparation for this election, Reminder Publishing asked both candidates a series of the same questions with regards to social and political issues. Here are their responses, in order of candidates’ last name.

Q: It is said that local governments don’t know what to do with budgets because they are waiting on the  federal government for assistance. How is the lack of action on the federal level affecting local and state  budgeting? What can be done in towns to navigate this issue?

Boldyga: I have a proven track record of advocating for local priorities and working around the clock to ensure our towns  receive their fair share. While it is unfortunate that the federal government has stalled on providing any assistance,  that should not come as a surprise. Partisan politics in Washington have reached toxic levels. I believe in the strength  of our communities and know that we’ll be able to navigate these challenging times. The truth is, every year 10s of millions of dollars are lost to wasteful spending, fraud, and frivolous projects. Dollars that otherwise could be used to help those in need. I am one of the few state representatives that has had the courage to stand up to leadership to  oppose those earmarks and will continue to do so as a responsible legislator. One thing is for certain, we cannot  increase taxes on the hard-working people of our district who are already overburdened and deserve to keep more of  their paychecks. If we work together to rein in spending and eliminate fraud then there is no question that we will  have more than enough in our local and state budgets to provide all the necessary services needed to ensure our communities are safe and healthy places to live.

O’Connor: Clearly the lack of action on the federal level has trickled down to the state and then down to us here on the local level. Thankfully the Legislature in better years had the foresight to set aside monies  for our Rainy Day Fund. Still, the state made funding available to cities and towns through H4708. For some strange reason my opponent voted against this bill which provided needed funding for our local police and fire departments and other emergency responders, food pantries and even our children’s schools to support remote learning.

Q: As a state representative, what do you think should be done to help support the local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Boldyga: I have always supported and advocated for small businesses, which is why year after year I’ve received the  endorsement from organizations like the NFIB: Small Business Association. Since the beginning of the pandemic, I’ve  been working non-stop to meet the needs of struggling business owners by ensuring they have access to resources,  assist in their applications for grants and loans, and voted in favor of legislation that provided much needed relief.  Most notably, I supported the creation of a Distressed Restaurant Trust Fund which helps to cover payroll expenses,  rent and mortgage, insurance costs, past due payments for supplies, goods or services, and the procurement of  personal protective equipment. I’m committed to advocating for businesses throughout the district and continue to  meet with business owners to hear from them directly on how we can continue to support their needs.

O’Connor: Absolutely but we first must truly understand how the pandemic has ravaged our local small businesses and hear directly from them about what support they need and then do whatever we can to provide it. Too often the folks in Boston think they have the answer to a problem without actually listening to those impacted by that problem.  Also the problems in Eastern Mass. may differ significantly than the problems here in Western Mass. and if we don’t have a representative who is not only in tune with the unique issues facing small businesses here they must also have a strong, respected and listened to voice to deliver.  Our district lacks that type of voice in the House of Representatives.

Q. How do you feel about the state’s decisions regarding bringing children back to school? What role would you play in ensuring their safety?

Boldyga: As the father of three school-aged children, I want nothing more for my kids and all students to be in a safe learning  environment. As your state representative, it’s my job to provide resources for our cities and towns and I’ve done just  that. For a number of years, I’ve filed and secured budget amendments that have helped improve both Agawam and  Southwick school buildings. I recently supported the Coronavirus Relief Fund School Reopening Grants for Agawam,  Granville, and Southwick to safely reopen our schools. Agawam received $803,250 in funding and the Southwick Tolland-Granville Regional School District received $317,025. This grant program is focused on providing schools and  districts with funding needed to provide educational services, develop plans, and provide PPE for the return to normal.

O’Connor: The safety and welfare of our kids and school community is first priority.  Due to the guidelines set forth from DESE, CDC, and through our Governor’s Office, this has been a challenge for all of our school committees across the board. We need to thoroughly follow safety guidelines in our school regarding tracking our COVID numbers which vary from district to district. Transparency from school administration to parents and within the community is also key regarding whether or not we continue to have a rise in cases. My role as the next state representative in ensuring safety in education as being a priority and ensuring that our COVID relief funding, Chapter 70 funding and funding through our Student Opportunity Act is thoroughly assessed and fairly appropriated to our school communities.

Q: Amidst the protests following the death of George Floyd, what do you think can be done in local communities to enforce equality and proper social justice, particularly for those who may feel marginalized by society?

Boldyga: A critical role of government is to ensure that everyone is treated equally under the law. Throughout society inequalities have always existed and they should and must be addressed. However, in our effort to make reforms we cannot continue to divide each other and it cannot come at the expense of the safety and well-being of our  communities. As a former police officer, I’ve experienced first-hand the challenges and risks that law enforcement  officers and first responders face every day. As a visible leader in the community, I know there are citizens of all backgrounds that have been treated poorly by the systems created by government bureaucracies. We must and can  do better. We must see past the prevailing narrative in the media that it’s “us vs. them” and realize there is more that  unites us than divides us. With a renewed sense of compassion and respect for one another I believe there is a path  forward that keeps our communities safe, moves us toward a more equal society, and helps all Americans realize their full potential. While House leadership rushes to pass knee-jerk “social-justice” legislation that does more harm by dividing us even further, I will continue to advocate for transparent reform efforts that allow for ample opportunity  for public input and open debate.  

O’Connor: Training, training, training and some more training.  As a US Navy Veteran we drilled and trained so often that when just about any situation that presented itself we knew how to handle and react to it like second nature. The Commonwealth should mandate these additional trainings at their certified academies and MUST provide funding to cities and towns for additional in-service. We know the problem at hand, and while smaller less diverse towns may believe they do not have an issue with racial bias in their policing they still must train officers properly to ensure that it never is.

Q. What is your big message for voters?

Boldyga: I’m successfully doing the job of state representative. I’ve advocated for broad-based reforms like pension, welfare, and tax reform, while at the same time ensuring that our district gets its fair share. My ability to work across the aisle has led to  funding significant district projects. For example, a complete renovation of the Agawam Junior High School auditorium, a new DPW building in Southwick and most notably, working with my colleagues to secure the funding to accelerate the Morgan-Sullivan  Bridge Project which will now finish almost a year early.

Now more than ever, it’s important for us to continue to rally and work together as a community. Together we can ensure  that Agawam, Granville, and Southwick remain affordable and some of the best towns in Massachusetts to live, work, and  raise a family. We must keep property taxes low and continue to fight against new taxes so that our communities remain  attractive places for new businesses and affordable for working-class families. These past few months have been some of the  most challenging for all of us, we’ve all been asked to make sacrifices. As your state representative, I’ve worked around the clock to meet those challenges and that’s exactly what I’ll do if re-elected. I'd be honored to continue to serve as your state representative.

O’Connor: People over party.  The people of Agawam, Southwick and Granville will be my first priority not partisan politics. Our state representative must be able to work with people on both sides of the aisle to deliver the most resources back to the district.  We have missed that with our representative for over 10 years.  His extreme partisan views leave him not only away from the table where decisions are made but he’s not even in the room. I am visible within the communities and also have empathy for others