Two candidates are running in the Democratic primary for the Third Hampshire seat in the Massachusetts House, which includes Amherst, Pelham, and parts of Granby.
Mindy Domb and Eric Nakajima are vying to replace state Representative Solomon Goldstein-Rose, who announced in early August that he would not run for re-election after serving just one term.
Domb has been executive director of the Amherst Survival Center for the past five years. Before that, she spent much of her career working on the HIV epidemic as a congressional aide in New York and in building the Berkshire AIDS coalition.
At a candidate forum recorded by Amherst Media, Domb said that, if elected, she would continue that work as a community advocate.
“I believe the essence of government is to respond to the needs of our communities, and our most vulnerable neighbors," she said. "My approach is to tap into our combined expertise and create results and build community. I’ve done it my whole life."
Eric Nakajima chairs the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee and served as an assistant secretary to former Governor Deval Patrick. Working at both the local and state level, he said, has prepared him to collaborate with other legislators.
“I learned to develop those skills of listening, outreach, partnership. It's something I think I've done effectively on the school committee," he said. "What I think I can do is find common interests where we can work together and bridge what may appear to be differences to forge legislation.”
The candidates are in agreement on many policy issues, including their support for single payer healthcare, investment in K through 12 and higher education, and increased access to public transportation.
When asked about their legislative priorities, Nakajima said he'd first work to pass the Safe Communities Act, which would limit how much local police can work with federal immigration officials.
"That’s an urgent need to protect our neighbors who are undocumented immigrants, but also to provide an environment that sends a clear message of support for them, as well," Nakajima said.
Domb said her priority would be to push for the so-called Fair Share Amendment that would put an additional tax on millionaires. The proposal was kicked off the November ballot by the courts, but she's not giving up.
"Every community has a list of expenses. We have to figure out a way to pay for it," she said.
Domb was endorsed by the incumbent, Goldstein-Rose, and has raised over $39,000. Nakajima has received $31,000 -- about a third of it he put in himself, according to reports filed this week with the state.
The Democratic primary is on September 4. With no Republican or independent candidates for the seat, the winning Democrat will likely get the job.
Take a look at NEPR's Massachusetts Primary Voter Guide 2018.
