State Senate candidate Adam Hinds, one of three Democrats running for the Berkshire Hampshire Franklin Hampden seat in the September primary election, has issued a statement outlining his environmental priorities, which he says aims to create jobs, save money for municipalities, people and businesses, and to establish the region as a green-industry leader while maintaining its environmental leadership identity.
Hinds says he hopes to develop the green energy industry by recruiting energy technology firms and getting money for schools to grow green-energy programs.
“Massachusetts leads the nation in energy efficiency, but more needs to be done,” Hinds said. “Tremendous savings to individuals results from investing in energy efficiency and demand response. Fixing methane-leaking pipes in existing natural gas lines statewide will help enhance capacity delivered to businesses and consumers. With my colleagues in the senate, I will work to ensure that electric ratepayers would not pay for new gas pipelines.”
He promises to “add a strong voice to the state Senate’s legislation calling to increase the Renewable Portfolio Standards” requirement for energy suppliers. “Locally, I will be a leader in drafting a plan to offset carbon output for the district: 100 percent net-zero; secure funds to expand resources for the successful Green Communities program; and ensure the viability of programs for consumer access” to a variety of energy-saving measures.
Hinds said he will work to ensure the state has the resources to preserve land and keep it accessible “without creating hardship” for the tax base of small towns.
Orange Democrat Denise Andrews has received the endorsement of the progressive coalition Mass Alliance for the Second Franklin state House seat.
“Denise is an advocate who achieves progress with issues critical to her constituents and others around the Commonwealth in areas such as earned paid sick days, a living minimum wage, environmental stewardship, excellent public education and civil rights.” said Mass Alliance Director Jordan Berg Powers. “As state representative from 2011-2014, Denise led on important bills and budget initiatives that put her community and our commonwealth first. She is a hardworking and an effective partner, and we need her back in Boston.”
Andrews, who is challenging Athol Republican Susannah Whipps Lee in the November election to win back state representative post, said she was proud to gain the endorsement.
“Mass Alliance’s core values of respect, inclusion, stewardship and civil rights will always be at the core of my life’s mission and work,” Andrews said. “I take this responsibility very seriously and I will always respectfully and fully engage to advance more progressive and inclusive communities for all.”
Jeff Morneau, candidate of Governor’s Council-Eighth District in the state’s Sept. 8 Democratic primary, has called upon his opponent, Mary Hurley, to release her personnel file and judicial performance evaluations.
The Supreme Judicial Court has had an evaluation program for trial court judges since 2001, Morneau said in a statement released Friday, and each judge that has been evaluated received his or her evaluations.
“In the interest of transparency, the public deserves to know how my opponent was evaluated as a judge by attorneys, court employees, and jurors. Full disclosure of these records will allow the voters to have a better understanding of my opponent’s performance as a judge.”
Morneau called on Hurley, who retired in 2014 after serving for 19 years as a district court judge, to release her personnel file and judicial performance evaluations.