John Barrett is the state representative for the 1st Berkshire District of Massachusetts, located in the northwestern corner of the Commonwealth. He first won a special election in 2017 to fill the seat of the late Gailanne Cariddi, and was re-elected in 2018. Between 1984 and 2009, the Democrat was mayor of North Adams, the largest community in his district with a population of around 13,000. He spoke with WAMC this week about his goals for the 2020 session on Beacon Hill, his concerns about local preparedness for the coming national census, and what he thought the biggest legislative accomplishment of 2019 was.