AMHERST — With the 3rd Hampshire District seat up for grabs, two Amherst Democrats with similar policy ideas are vying for the nomination in the Sept. 4 primary.
Eric Nakajima and Mindy Domb are the lone candidates for the position after incumbent independent Solomon Goldstein-Rose announced he would not seek a second term.
The district includes all of Amherst and Pelham and Precinct 1 in Granby.
A leadership style that will use coalition building and community organizing principles are what Mindy Domb says she would bring to the Statehouse as the next representative for the 3rd Hampshire District.
“I have the experience, skills and track record of working with others,” Domb said.
Domb, 59, the executive director of Amherst Survival Center since 2013, said she intends to use her long experience with social service nonprofits as a way to bring transparency and openness to legislating.
“We need someone who is engaging with constituents and getting feedback from them,” Domb said.
Citing her experience as co-founder of the Berkshire AIDS Coalition and a leader of the Amherst Diaper Drive, Domb said she knows how to build awareness about issues that are affecting families. Once this is done, she then strives to bring people together toward achieving goals, whether it be ensuring there are services related to combating the HIV epidemic or making sure all families have diapers for their babies.
“I want to bring a sense of compassion and caring (to the Statehouse),” Domb said.
While Domb said she will push for progressive taxes and support of the social safety net, including promoting food security and reducing income inequality, she intends to prioritize public education funding, including a student loan repayment plan, and money to improve public transportation.
Among her top priorities are also responding to the climate crisis and working toward a universal health care system with a single-payer model.
She will also stand up to the xenophobia and the policies coming out of President Trump’s White House and the Republican-controlled Congress, and the crudeness of Trump.
“We need to proactively withdraw support from the inhumane policies of Trump,” Domb said.
Domb has a bachelor’s degree in political science and women’s studies from Barnard College, and completed graduate work in adult learning and leadership from Teachers College in New York City.
Domb said she hopes to work with other newly elected legislators to fight for western Massachusetts, noting that the region lost significant clout from the state representatives who have resigned, retired, died and chosen not to run for re-election.
“Primarily, I want to restore the seat to a progressive Democrat who’s a strong advocate for our district’s values, needs and priorities, and who has the skills and experience to use that advocacy to build coalitions that create results,” Domb said.
Losing the entire Hampshire County legislative delegation in Boston leaves a big gap to fill, but Eric Nakajima says he is confident he is well prepared to be the next representative for the 3rd Hampshire District.
“I think I can not only be an effective voice on Beacon Hill, but I have a real passion for moving the state forward in a more progressive direction,” Nakajima said.
The chairman of the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee who works professionally as a consultant, Nakajima, 51, said he understands how state politics works after serving in the Patrick administration as the first assistant secretary for innovation policy. In that position, he helped secure money for the $95 million life sciences building at the University of Massachusetts.
For the past two years, he has observed the pressure on public education.
“Serving on the School Committee I’ve had the opportunity to see up close the concern of charter school funding and the state’s declining investment in our schools,” Nakajima said.
He is committed to fully fund education through state Chapter 70 money, keeping charter school funding off the backs of municipal budgets and finding ways to provide debt-free colleges and universities.
Nakajima said he is confident that he can be outspoken on behalf of public education coming from the “bluest of the blue districts.”
He has issued a 10-point platform for progressive education reform that includes ending the use of high-stakes testing for student graduation and advancement and re-establishing the “50-50” plan that would reduce tuition costs at UMass.
Nakajima supports adopting a progressive income tax and seeking other revenue sources, including adopting a revised Fair Share Amendment.
Reinvesting in transportation and infrastructure, including the east-west rail, and enhanced partnerships with UMass, should be pursued, he said. Fighting climate change will also be a priority.
Nakajima said he endorses the Safe Communities Act that would protect undocumented immigrants and wants to make sure funding is available for Planned Parenthood. He added that he is committed to establishing single-payer health care.
Nakajima went to UMass and earned a master’s in city planning from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2002.
With President Trump in the White House and Republicans in control in Washington, a state representative needs to help fight back against a far-right political agenda. As the son of an immigrant, Nakajima said he would likely be first person of color elected to state office from the region.
“I think with my experience in the community and on Beacon Hill, I can have a significant impact,” Nakajima said.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
