DEERFIELD — The candidates running for the Democratic nomination for the Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester District drew hundreds of people to The Hess Auditorium at Deerfield Academy Monday evening.
For more than two hours, Chelsea Kline, Ryan O’Donnell, Steven Connor and Jo Comerford covered topics including leadership styles, single-payer healthcare, agriculture and support for the arts.
Major policy disagreements were not on display at the debate. And if there was personal animosity between any of the candidates, it was not apparent.
Kline is the only candidate on the ballot, while Comerford, O’Donnell and Connor are all running as write-in candidates. The primary will take place on Sept. 4.
O’Donnell, the president of the Northampton City Council, made it a point to circle back to his legislative experience and accomplishments
“I believe in the legislative process,” said O’Donnell, who also noted that he is the only person with legislative experience running for the seat.
Kline, an educator and women’s rights advocate, emphasized the importance of lived experiences, noting her time as a struggling single mother. She also pointed to her non-establishment identity.
“I never want to be a mouthpiece,” she said. “I want to be an inclusive collaborator.”
Connor, the director of Central Hampshire Veteran’s Services, frequently drew on his experiences heading that agency.
“I run a government agency,” said Connor. “I understand what the cities and towns need to get from state government.”
Comerford, a former campaign director at MoveOn.org, emphasized her experience as a “policy wonk,” including her time heading the National Priorities Project.
“I think about my deep issue expertise,” she said.
Probably no issue united the candidates more than single-payer healthcare. All expressed support for it.
“I’m going to fight for it,” Comerford said. “The time for single-payer has come.”
“I firmly believe that health care is a human right,” said Kline, who added that other efforts like telemedicine and reducing prescription drug prices could also be advanced.
“We’re going to have a lot of pushback,” Connor said. He said people can be convinced of supporting a single-payer system, noting that retiring Rep. John Scibak, D-South Hadley, had recently come out in support of it.
“I believe Massachusetts can make it happen,” said O’Donnell.
He shared an anecdote of someone who didn’t support raising the minimum wage but did support single-payer health care.
O’Donnell noted that he supports raising the minimum wage.
In a question on supporting the arts, Comerford and Connor revealed that they’d previously enjoyed careers as thespians, while Kline noted that her father and husband are sculptors.
“The power of art is amazing,” said Connor, who once ran a theater program for people with mental and cognitive disabilities.
“I feel like I can bring my whole heart to this question,” Comerford said. She revealed she once acted in off-Broadway productions in New York City.
While O’Donnell did not reveal a secret artistic past, he did note the importance of the creative economy.
“The creative economy can actually be a solution,” he said.
The debate was sponsored by local media organizations, including the Greenfield Recorder and the Daily Hampshire Gazette, and the League of Women Voters.