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Category Archives: Hampden & Hampshire Senate

Senator John Velis

Briefings: Déjà vu for Velis, but with a Bit of a Tightrope This Time…

WESTFIELD—January 14, 2020 was an eternity ago. Yet, to the untrained eye, then-Rep John Velis’ first kickoff for Senate looked much like his reelection launch on Tuesday night. No one in 2020 knew Velis’ special election would be moved and the only celebration of his victory would be a coronavirus-safe gathering in a backyard here.

Hindsight 2020 & the Election That (Mostly) Was in the 413…

Former Vice-President Joseph Biden will be the 46th President of the United States and Senator Kalama Harris will be Vice-President. Four days after polls closed across the nation, Biden and Harris accumulated votes in enough states to win in the Electoral College. Their victory is

John Velis 2020

After Arduous Campaign, Victory for Velis…& a Vastly Changed World…

WESTFIELD—For a few hours in the western Pioneer Valley Tuesday, humans walked the earth much like they did only a few months ago. Polling places throughout the region seemed almost normal, save the masked sign-holders. Voters—or their mailed ballots—were there too, selecting the region’s next

Massachusetts Senate

Where COVID Is, No Special Election There Shall Be?…

UPDATED 3/20/20 7:22PM: To include note of Cain’s comments to The Republican. UPDATED 3/25/20 7:29PM: On March 23, the Senate moved the special election to May 19. Just a few days after Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin stopped short of calling for a

John Velis 2020

Briefings: Velis Launches & the Senate Battle Begins…

WESTFIELD—In one sense, the State Representative John Velis’ kickoff for State Senate was a formality. He had been running unofficially since last spring and officially since Don Humason announced his resignation, shortly after winning the mayoralty here. Still, the launch was both a show of

The Velis Senate Expansion Is Now Underway…

SOUTHAMPTON—At a low-key fundraiser Tuesday, Westfield Rep John Velis held court with local notables from both here and throughout the 2nd Hampden & Hampshire Senate district. This was not his first swing through town. Although the current occupant of the Senate seat, Don Humason has

The Whole 2019 Yards: Westfield Election’s End Begets New Race…

UPDATED 7:44AM: To reflect a correction. The presidential primary is March 3, not March 6. Many expected Westfield State Senator Don Humason to waltz right into the Whip City’s mayor’s office. It turned out to be far more complicated than that. Police Captain Michael McCabe

Analysis: Humason Starts the Music for Whip City & Beyond…

Confirming weeks of speculation, Westfield State Senator Don Humason formally announced Thursday he would run for mayor. Mayor Brian Sullivan is retiring, opening the Whip City’s top job. Humason, though a conservative Republican, is an acceptable choice for many who fear a right-wing candidate could

Analysis: Turbulence Rocking Baker’s Admin. Crosses 413 Senate Race…

UPDATED 9/25/16 9:30PM: To reflect a correction. An earlier version identified Lewis’s workplace as the Department of Environmental Proection, on the belief the Environmental Police were subunit. The police, Lewis’s employer, are, in fact, a separate unit under EEA. Earlier update to include comments from Mass