The longest-serving current member of the western Massachusetts state legislative delegation is retiring.
State Rep. Thomas Petrolati, a Ludlow Democrat, first elected to the Massachusetts House in 1986, is not going to run for another term.
Petrolati represents the 7th Hampden District, which includes Ludlow and parts of Belchertown, Chicopee, and the Indian Orchard neighborhood of Springfield.
Once the third-highest ranking member in the House as Speaker pro tempore, Petrolati now chairs the House Committee on Steering, Policy & Scheduling.
Petrolati spoke with WAMC’s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill