The race for the Democratic nomination for the 1st Franklin District seat in the House of Representatives is neck and neck, and as of 1:30 a.m., with three towns yet to report their results, Lora Wondolowski is in the lead by 113 votes.
The towns of Heath, Shelburne and Colrain have yet to send their results to the Greenfield Recorder, but Wondolowski has garnered 3,915 votes, or 50.73%, across the 15 municipalities that have reported their unofficial results. As of 1:30 a.m., opponent Corinne Coryat has received 3,802 votes, or 49.26%.
Between Heath, Shelburne and Colrain, there are approximately 3,500 registered voters.
The winner of the Democratic primary will move on to face Independent candidate Amy Lavallee in the general election in November in the race to fill a vacancy representing the 18 municipalities of the 1st Franklin District. Former Rep. Natalie Blais resigned in January to take a position at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Wondolowski, 56, is the current Greenfield City Council president and works as the director of advancement and communications at the Peace Development Fund, a foundation based in Amherst that supports social justice organizations across the state and country. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in environmental science from Bard College. She is originally from Illinois and settled in Greenfield in 2003.
She ran with goals of tackling climate and affordability issues, particularly housing, as well as pushing for more rural equity, particularly increasing funding for rural schools.
As of 1:30 a.m., Wondolowski had won favor in the 1st Franklin District precincts in the city of Greenfield, where she garnered 844 votes compared to Coryat’s 516, as well as the towns of Ashfield, Leverett, Leyden, Monroe, Montague and Rowe.
According to data from the Office of Campaign and Political Finance, Wondolowski’s campaign had raised more money than Coryat’s as of Sept. 1. Wondolowski has raised $32,980 and spent $18,468 on her campaign. Top donors include Leverett author Josh Goldstein, Deerfield Selectboard Chair Tim Hilchey, and Ben Markens, who chairs the Ashfield Finance Committee.
Other donors backing Wondolowski include Tara Brewster, vice president of business development and director of philanthropy at Greenfield Savings Bank; Montague Selectboard member Marina Goldman; state Rep. Susannah Whipps, I-Athol; and Mike McCusker of Buckland.
Coryat, 27, previously served as Blais’ chief of staff. While she continued working in the office after Blais’ resignation, she stepped down from the role earlier this summer. She grew up in Williamsburg and now lives in Deerfield. Coryat holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Clark University and is set to complete a law degree by the end of the year.
She campaigned on a platform similar to Wondolowski’s, as well as a push for new, young leadership at the State House.
As of 1:30 a.m., Coryat had won the support of her town of Deerfield with 663 votes compared to Wondolowski’s 470. She also won Bernardston, Buckland, Charlemont, Conway, Hawley, Sunderland and Whately.
Coryat’s campaign has raised just over $23,300 and spent approximately $8,400. Top donors include Greg Garrison, president of Northeast Solar; Larry Langford, who chairs the Buckland Finance Committee; and Buckland resident Martha Thurber, chair of the Mohawk Trail Regional School District School Committee.
Other prominent donors backing Coryat include Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan, Franklin County’s interim Sheriff Lori Streeter and Buckland Town Administrator Pam Guyette.
The Greenfield Recorder will continue to update results as they are received.
