IN THE NEWS

Westfield, MA – Former Westfield State Representative Steve Pierce has endorsed candidate for State Representative and City Councilor Dan Allie for the seat Pierce once held from 1978 to 1991.

I have known Dan Allie since 1990 when I ran for Governor and 1991 when I ran for Congress. One of my fondest memories of my political life is the wonderful people from Westfield, Western Mass and across the state who helped me on my campaigns. Dan was one of the hardest working volunteers we had in Western Mass. Dan has continued to support worthy candidates and issues for thirty years.

On election night, we knew about mailings paid for by Massachusetts Majority Independent Expenditure PAC. But that did not explain the high voter turnout in a Republican primary or the unexpected results with an unknown candidate winning by 117 votes. If these deceptive postcards mailed to Don’s supporters misled 60 voters into believing Mayor Don Humason had endorsed Pease, it was enough to change the outcome of an election. Don Humason did not endorse Kelly Pease. 

With so few votes deciding the race, it was troubling to discover what other factors affected this primary, by even larger numbers.

A review of the Super PAC’s campaign finance report show donations average over $25,000 per person with some as high as $50.000. It spends $156,000 this year helping 18 Democrats and 4 Republicans, including Kelly Pease. Most voters are unaware of who is influencing their decisions and elections. Super PACs allow billionaires and millionaires to pour unlimited amounts into campaigns, drowning out the voice of ordinary citizens.

The Voter Activity Report became available from the City Clerk the following week. It showed more Independents (1619) than Republicans (1577) and 14 Democrats voted in Westfield’s Republican Primary,. Democrats cannot vote in a Republican primary. It was determined they had registered as Independents so close to the primary they were still listed as Democrats on the voter rolls. They were not traditional Republican voters. When the list was analyzed it showed that 600 Independents with no history of ever voting Republican, had chosen to vote in this primary, 

All of this was very odd, especially with the interest and massive turnout in the Democratic Primary of Neal/Morse and Kennedy/Markey. While the percentage of Independents who regularly vote Republican was normal, the number of Independent with no history of voting Republican was 3 times higher than normal. 

There will always be influences in politics and elections, but the good people of Westfield, the ordinary men and women who work everyday to support their families, or run a small business to make a better life should decide our elections, not the local “good old boy network,” big money donors and special interest groups. 

Westfield  – City Councilor and State Representative candidate Dan Allie put two questions on Westfield’s ballot in November. Allie thanked the hundreds of people who signed petitions.

The first question asks voters if the representative should introduce and vote in favor of legislation to increase Local Aid to at least 2007 levels. The second question asks the state to increase funding for road maintenance by at least 100 million dollars. 

The Mass State Lottery was created to provide funding, called Local Aid to cities and towns for police, fire and education and help lower property taxes.

The state has taken a billion dollars out of the Lottery fund in the last decade, even when the state had billion dollar surpluses. The state built up its' Rainy Day fund to over 3 billion dollars, but never restored Local Aid. 

WESTFIELD  – Westfield City Councilor Dan Allie filed a resolution opposing  TCI, the Transportation and Climate Initiative.

“First,  Governor Baker ignored the democratic process when he attempted to  bypass our legislators voting on it and led a “league of states” to  implement this carbon tax scheme. As that effort is falling apart, the  state senate is taking up a series of three bills S.2476, S.2477 and  S.2478, that together form a climate change package that will  drastically increase regulations on how people live their daily lives,”  said Allie.

“The  state needs to put more resources toward roads and infrastructure, but  this is not the way to go. 

WESTFIELD –  City Councilor Dan Allie announced he is seeking the Westfield state representative seat.

Allie, chairman of the Westfield Republican Committee, made the  announcement at the Feb. 15 Lincoln Day Brunch at East Mountain Country  Club that he has pulled nomination papers for the November election.

The seat became open with the election of John Velis to the State Senate. “I’ve enjoyed serving the people of Westfield as a city councilor,“  Allie said, adding that he’s worked hard to listen to the concerns of  residents. Allie is currently serving his fourth term as city councilor.

“A lot of issues that we deal with locally are affected by what goes  on at the state level, and I would like to have the opportunity to do  that as well,” he said.

WESTFIELD – Over 160 people gathered at East Mountain Country Club  Feb. 15 to honor five Westfield veterans at the Lincoln Day Brunch  hosted by the Westfield Republican Committee.

Local veteran’s organizations nominated the veterans honored at the  event, and City Councilor Dan Allie, chair of the Westfield Republican  Committee, presented the awards.

Allie presented the Veteran of the Year award to World War II  veteran Richard Trusty, and Mayor Donald F. Humason, Jr.  proclaimed Feb. 15, 2020 as Richard Trusty Day. 

A video honoring the service of Petty Officer Trusty and remembering Pearl  Harbor Survivor Robert Greenleaf, produced by Dan Allie and Peter Cowles  and narrated by Christian Lent was shown.