Davis declared victory over rivals Patrick White and Jamie Minacci in front of a crowd of supporters at Barrington Brewery Tuesday night with around 55% of the vote in her favor. Unofficial numbers showed her winning every municipality in the district save for Stockbridge, where second-and third-place finishers White and Minacci serve as select board members.
“It was a great race," said Davis. "I have to thank my opponents. I have to thank Jamie and Patrick. We all ran a really good race, and I salute them, for sure, because they made me a better person. And I'm always working hard. I'm going to continue to work hard. I'm going to continue to work with you and for you, I'm going to be your voice, hopefully.”
After her speech, Davis took a call from Massachusetts House Speaker Ron Mariano handed to her by 2nd Berkshire District State Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier.
The Democrat, who assumed office in 2011, sat down with WAMC to talk about the primary.
“My first reaction is to really appreciate all three of the Democratic candidates," said Farley-Bouvier. "This race was clean by all accounts, everybody was talking about what they felt was most important. And then, of course, when it comes down to it, it's your ground game that makes the difference, especially when there's an open seat. A couple of observations I made, really, for the last couple of months, is that Dalton is new to the district, and we could see Leigh, and Leigh’s team that's very, also very important- The team that was behind Leigh put a lot of effort into Dalton, and Dalton was a difference maker tonight.”
WAMC asked Farley-Bouvier what issue she felt had the greatest resonance with Southern Berkshire voters.
“I think it's a national issue, it's certainly acknowledged as number one crisis of Massachusetts, and it's come home to roost right here in Berkshire County," she answered. "And that is housing. The housing crisis is key, and Leigh's expertise in housing and her experience there, I think, was a difference maker.”
Davis goes on to face independent candidate Marybeth Mitts, a Lenox select board member, in the November 5th general election.
“Now that she's the nominee, that Leigh is the nominee, then the Democratic Party will get behind her in that," said Farley-Bouvier. "But this race is really about two local women who need to get their message out to the people of South Berkshire and Dalton, and we're going to see how they do that. And again, it'll come down to the ground game.”
Farley-Bouvier, who was uncontested in the 2nd Berkshire Democratic primary, looked ahead to the next chapter of Davis’s path to Beacon Hill.
“I just think that she has to take what she did in the primary with her team, and now she's going to have the extra support of the Democratic Party behind her," she said.
"She's always the one who will lead the charge her and her team. She'll have the resources the Democratic Party, which means access to more, better voter lists and organization, and there will be some level of financial help there too.”
WAMC caught up with White, who secured around 38% of the vote, at his election night party at the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge.
“I just wanted to congratulate Leigh Davis on a great campaign and resounding victory," he said. "I am happy that I took Stockbridge, and those are the voters who know me the best, and had one of the highest margins in the county, I kept, I won Stockbridge. Having said that, I wish Marybeth and Leigh a great race, and I stand ready to assist them any way I can, no matter who ends up winning the seat in November.”
WAMC asked the candidate what campaign issue he’d like to see the next 3rd Berkshire District state rep continue to work on.
“I believe that the most historic thing I've worked on is reconciliation with the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans, and I hope that that that that progress continues to be made in that area, including their dream of a cultural center here in the Berkshires,” he answered.
Minacci, who received under 7% of the vote, did not respond to a request for comment on this story. Democratic 1st Berkshire District state Rep. John Barrett, the third of the county’s three House members, was uncontested in his primary. Incumbent 3rd Berkshire state Rep. Smitty Pignatelli – who is also serving as Lenox interim town manager – is retiring after 10 terms.
