AMHERST — As a self-described champion of the little guy, one of the Democratic candidates for governor sought Sunday to use incumbent Gov. Charlie Baker’s height against him.
“Tall is overrated,” said Jay Gonzalez, 47, of Needham, who is running against author and activist Bob Massie in the Sept. 4 Democratic primary. The winner of that bid will face off in the state election against the 6-foot-6-inch Baker on Nov. 6.
Gonzalez stumped at Groff Park during the local Progressive Democrats of America chapter’s annual picnic, which featured presentations on legislation and a chance for progressive politicians to pitch their perspectives.
“I know I’m the little guy in this election, literally and figuratively,” Gonzalez said, speaking to a crowd of about 50 people. “We will make a meaningful difference for all of the little guys out there.”
Gonzalez, who grew up in Ohio and moved to Massachusetts two decades ago, previously was a partner in a Boston law firm, served as secretary of administration and finance under former Gov. Deval Patrick, and most recently was president and CEO of the private health care company CeltiCare Health, which he noted covered those on Medicaid.
During his speech, Gonzalez expressed a desire to tackle region-specific infrastructure challenges like broadband and transportation, which he said will improve economic development in the Pioneer Valley. Since announcing his candidacy almost 20 months ago, Gonzalez has visited the region a number of times, and has talked to area farmers who’ve expressed a desire to be noticed more by the eastern end of the state, he said.
“I want to be governor of the whole state,” Gonzalez said. “I will stand up for every single person in this state. I will see you, and hear you.”
At the same time, while vying for local support, Gonzalez seemed to position himself as a leader in the state’s burgeoning progressive political movement. He touted shared political viewpoints such as affordable child care, the need to move toward clean energy, and single-payer health care — which almost every candidate in Hampshire County supports, according to Deborah Levenson, co-convener for the activist group Western Mass. Medicare for All.
“It’s been a tremendous up-surge since Bernie Sanders’ campaign,” Levenson said, noting the pool of progressive candidates who are campaigning this year.
Since Progressive Democrats of America started in 2004, Russell Freedman, who has been a member for decades and helped organize Sunday’s event, said he can’t remember a year when more progressive candidates ran for election. He attributed that surge to Sanders’ influence, which “has filtered down to all of these candidates,” Freedman said.
Sunday’s gathering isn’t the first time the local Progressive Democrats of America chapter encouraged progressive candidates along on their way. Freedman remembered a similar gathering in 2014, which was held in honor of the organization’s 10-year anniversary at the First Churches of Northampton, that influenced the number of progressives running this year.
“We’re the ones who pushed Bernie to run, right in Northampton,” said Kelley Johnson, another member. “And, of course, the Bernie Sanders campaign initiated a lot of this.”
In addition to Gonzalez, others who spoke Sunday, according to organizers, included a representative speaking on behalf of Massie; another for Josh Zakim, a candidate for secretary of state; Eric T. Nakajima and Mindy Domb, candidates for state representative of the 3rd Hampshire District; Jo Comerford and Ryan O’Donnell, write-in candidates for the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester seat in the state Senate; Lindsay Sabadosa, running for 1st Hampshire District in the Massachusetts House; and incumbent Congressman Jim McGovern, who made clear his disdain for the current state of national politics.
“I’m running out of words. I’m sick of this s–t,” McGovern said. “We’ve got to win. That’s the cure here. We need to win back the House, and expose the corruption in this White House. They’re so corrupt they make Richard Nixon look like a Boy Scout.”
Throughout his speech, McGovern was encouraged by shouts of “that’s right,” and enthusiastic clapping that echoed through the small pavilion.
During a pause, he added, “toilets rate better than Congress does right now.”
Andy Castillo can be reached at acastillo@gazettenet.com.