Ashley Shade made history in 2021 by becoming the first openly trans person in Berkshire County history to be elected to public office. Shade won a second two-year term on the North Adams city council in 2023.
According to documents filed with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance, Shade will turn her sights to the statehouse.
The current occupant of the seat is former longtime North Adams Mayor John Barrett, whose most recent filings show has around $31,000 in his campaign coffers heading into this year’s election.
Shade will run as Democrat despite her long involvement in Libertarian politics, including a stint as chair of the Massachusetts party. Her campaign treasurer Tom Pinkhasov is also a veteran of Libertarian politics, serving as treasurer of the Libertarian Party of Staten Island from 2021 to 2022.
Shade declined a WAMC request for comment, and says a formal announcement is scheduled for March 31st.
