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Barrett Backs Neal In Primary Challenge

An older white man in a suit jacket and red sweater smiles
JD Allen
/
WAMC
1st Berkshire District State Representative John Barrett

Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse continues to get a lukewarm reaction from fellow elected officials as he challenges longtime Massachusetts Congressman Richard Neal.

1st Berkshire District State Representative John Barrett tells WAMC he is firmly behind incumbent Neal, who faces a Democratic primary challenge from Morse as he seeks a 17th term in 2020.

“I listen to people say that he has not been in the area – he HAS been in the area. And I can speak from the prior congressman, who was one of the best, Silvio Conte, and Richie Neal ranks right up there with him with what he has brought back to this district.”

Barrett – the former mayor of North Adams – says he has great respect for Morse as a fellow mayor, describing the role as “one of the toughest jobs out there.”

Josh Landes has been WAMC's Berkshire Bureau Chief since February 2018 after working at stations including WBGO Newark and WFMU East Orange. A passionate advocate for Berkshire County, Landes was raised in Pittsfield and attended Hampshire College in Amherst, receiving his bachelor's in Ethnomusicology and Radio Production. You can reach him at jlandes@wamc.org with questions, tips, and/or feedback.
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