July 29: 1st Franklin District candidates attending Sunderland forum
SUNDERLAND — The three candidates for the 1st Franklin District state representative seat will participate in a forum at the First Congregational Church of Sunderland, located at 91 South Main St., on Wednesday, July 29, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
The candidates — Lora Wondolowski, Corinne Coryat and Amy Lavallee — will speak and answer questions. All are welcome.
The Sunderland Democratic Town Committee encourages all voters in the 1st Franklin District to come meet the candidates. The committee also welcomes new people to join its team. For more information, contact Scott Gudell at sunderlanddems@proton.me.
Franklin County farmers endorse Coryat
DEERFIELD — Local farmers Ben Clark of Clarkdale Fruit Farms in Deerfield and Dave Wisseman of Warner Farm in Sunderland endorse Corinne Coryat in her campaign for state representative of the 1st Franklin District, citing her commitment to local agriculture, regional equity and policies that strengthen local food systems.
“Having spent my life in western Massachusetts, I know firsthand that agriculture is at the heart of our region’s economy, identity and way of life,” Coryat said in a statement. “As a State House staffer, I have worked hand in hand with farmers across the commonwealth to develop policies that strengthen local food systems, protect working lands and help farms remain viable for generations to come. As your representative, I will fight to ensure that western Massachusetts receives its fair share of state support and that our farmers have the tools, resources and reliable partnership they need to thrive.”
Over the past five years working as aide to former state Rep. Natalie Blais, Coryat immersed herself in agricultural policy work, tackling issues that affect farmers, food security and economic development. In this role, she was involved in developing “An Act Fostering Agricultural Resilience in Massachusetts,” also known as the FARM bill, that was passed by the Senate and is geared toward supporting farms. She also worked on the creation of a natural disaster relief fund in 2023, a $20 million fund dedicated to responding to climate disasters, like the flooding in July 2023 that devastated the region’s crops.
“Corinne knows the issues facing farmers and has an insider’s knowledge of the FARM Bill,” Clark, the fourth-generation owner of Clarkdale Fruit Farms, said in a statement. “I’m confident she will carry on the legacies of Natalie Blais and Steve Kulik in representing and advocating for farms in the 1st Franklin District. She appreciates the value of farms for food security, land preservation and quality of life in western Massachusetts.”
“Corinne understands that farms like ours are more than businesses — they are part of the fabric of this community,” Wisseman said in a statement. “As a 10th-generation farm, we have seen how important it is to have leaders who understand both the challenges facing agriculture and the opportunities that come from investing in local food and local businesses. Having worked with Corinne for years, we know she understands the issues and will be a strong advocate for farmers and families across Franklin County.”
After collecting enough signatures for her name to be on the state primary ballot in September, Coryat held an official campaign launch party in May at Hope & Olive. Attendees included her former boss Blais, local elected officials, community leaders, educators, advocates, friends and residents from across the 1st Franklin District.
“This campaign is about making sure rural communities are not left behind,” Coryat said in a statement. “People in Franklin County deserve strong advocacy on issues like education funding, health care access, infrastructure, housing and climate resilience. I’m running because I believe our communities deserve a representative who understands both the challenges we face and the opportunities ahead.”
For more information about Coryat’s campaign, visit corinneforma.org or follow the campaign on social media @corinneforma.
Wondolowski holds campaign launch party
SOUTH DEERFIELD — Having secured enough signatures for her name to be on the state primary ballot in September, 1st Franklin District state representative candidate Lora Wondolowski held an official campaign launch party at Element Brewing & Distilling’s new South Deerfield location in late June.
“I am running because Franklin County towns deserve a voice on Beacon Hill that understands the challenges facing both our voters and our selectboards,” Wondolowski said in a statement, “and can lead with creativity and collaboration to get results.”
Wondolowski’s mother, Judi Wondolowski, traveled from Chicago to attend the event and spoke about her daughter’s lifelong commitment to service and advocacy.
The program was emceed by Deerfield Selectboard member Tim Hilchey and included remarks from Greenfield City Council Vice President John Garrett, Deerfield Cultural Council Chair Emily Gaylord and Montague Town Meeting member Francia Wisnewski. Numerous elected officials, community leaders, labor representatives and advocates from across the 1st Franklin District were in attendance, including Montague Selectboard member Marina Goldman; Greenfield city councilors Katherine Golub, John Bottomley and Sarah Bolduc; Deerfield School Committee member Carey Etchells; Ashfield Finance Committee Chair Ben Markens; Sunderland School Committee Chair Jessica Corwin; and Leyden Selectboard member Katherine DiMatteo.
Attendees heard Wondolowski, who currently serves as Greenfield City Council president and works for the Peace Development Fund, share her vision for Franklin County and discuss the issues she has heard most often in the course of talking with prospective voters. Her campaign centers on advocating for equitable state funding formulas and regional partnerships to ensure rural schools receive the resources they need; advancing regional solutions that increase housing opportunities while protecting community character, farmland and natural resources; and strengthening support for agriculture, transportation, clean energy and climate resilience.
The campaign also highlighted early endorsements, including Progressive Massachusetts, Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution (FCCPR) and Mass Alliance.
For more information about the campaign, visit wondoforrep.org.
