Pittsfield is the most expensive contested mayoral race in western Massachusetts this year. That's according to recent campaign finance reports that show just how much it costs to become — or remain — a mayor.
Through mid-October, Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer and challenger Melissa Mazzeo combined to spend $90,000. It's one of six contested mayoral elections in western Massachusetts this coming election day.
Panelist Matt Szafranski said the big thing that jumps out at him is that Pittsfield's mayoral race is well outpacing Springfield's.
"There's less than almost a quarter of the people in Pittsfield compared to Springfield," he said. "Now, granted, part of it is because the races' competitiveness is different, but it's still kind of jarring to see a contested race in Springfield spend less money than the race in Pittsfield."
Szafranski noted that almost all of the spending in the Springfield race is coming from the incumbent, Mayor Domenic Sarno.
"Campaigning isn't super expensive, but it's not cheap, when you've got 150,000 people in your city, and yet, you know, we're losing out to Pittsfield," he said.
Panelist Susan Bigelow said spending limits in local campaigns is one way to go.
"You can also go with public financing," Bigelow said. "There are some cities and towns across the region, like New Haven, that do have public financing for municipal campaigns."
Bigelow pointed out that data filed with the state also show where campaign money is being spent.
"In the Pittsfield race, the challenger, Mazzeo, seems to be spending quite a lot of money on campaign consultants," she said. "And I always worry about that — when I see a campaign spending a lot of money on consultants — just because that seems to indicate that they're not quite sure what they're doing."
State records show Mazzeo spent $4,000 on consulting in the months of September and October.
What about having off-year local elections, instead of just combining them on the ballot when there's state or federal elections? Connecticut's Secretary of the State Denise Merrill has floated the idea, but panelist Bigelow says there's still a place for local elections in other years.
There's also an at-large city council election in Springfield. Challenger Chris Pohner has found himself at the center of controversy since the preliminary election over online posts in the past that some have called homphobic and racist.
The story was first reported by Szafranski at Western Mass. Politics and Insight. Despite pulled endorcements and calls to leave the race, Pohner has not done so.
Lastly, the head of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission said the state's vaping ban is having an impact on the state's legal marijuana industry. The halt has taken a bite out of business for retailers, and some who used to vape are turning to marijuana flower instead.
"The vaping ban has clearly had an impact in terms of supply since, you know, that [vaping products] represented about 30% of what was being sold at the stores," said Steve Hoffman, who chairs the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission. "And that is obviously no longer the case. And I think that's created a little bit of a of a product shortage."
One cannabis company head said he believes some people are turning to the black market to get vaping supplies.
Guests:
- Susan Bigelow, columnist, CT News Junkie
- Matt Szafranski, editior, Western Mass. Politics and Insight
