I write in response to the Aug. 30 guest column by my opponent, the incumbent on the Governor’s Council from District 8.
My name is Michael Fenton and I am a partner at a law firm with offices in Northampton, an adjunct professor, and an eight-term city councilor from Springfield. I am running for Governor’s Councilor because I know I can do a better job for western Massachusetts.
The incumbent’s column would have you believe that she is the only candidate in this race that is committed to social justice and that I am the chosen candidate of the “Springfield political establishment.” I could not let these suggestions go unanswered. Here are the facts:
I have been a committed and vocal proponent for social justice and equality in all of its forms for my entire life. First of all, the work of fighting for equality is personal to me as a gay man. My record in this area speaks for itself. I am one of the founding members of the Center for Social Justice at Western New England University School of Law. I do pro bono work for gender affirming care intuitions, environmental justice collaboratives, racial justice non-profits, and many more. I have a long history of democratic activism by working with progressive organizations like Arise for Social Justice and Roca, Inc., where I served for years as a board member assisting with intervention programs for youth in the justice-involved community. In my years on the City Council, I have dutifully represented an incredibly diverse district, which is majority-minority, and includes the poorest census tract in Massachusetts. I know the importance of social justice and fighting for diversity in all its forms and I’ve built coalitions by working together with people for change, as highlighted by the fact that I have served five terms as City Council president.
I am not a part of the “Springfield establishment.” I was 22-years old when I first ran for City Council against the son of a former mayor, a neighborhood council president, a doctor, and a three-time candidate for elected office. I was an outsider, and I won because of it. Since being elected, I have fought the establishment for positive change, and even sued Mayor Domenic Sarno’s administration twice. One suit was to defeat a toxic bio-mass incinerator that would have polluted our air for generations (thank you to the Conversation Law Foundation and my Hampshire County friends for the help). In the wake of the George Floyd murder, I called up respected Northampton attorneys Tom Lesser and Michael Aleo and got them to help me sue the City of Springfield to reinstate a Police Commission. We took that case to the commonwealth’s highest court, where Tom and Mike delivered a resounding victory. At the same time, I fought the police union for body-worn cameras and statewide licensure. We won both those fights as well. My record is not one of being an insider, it is one of being a progressive leader for positive change.
Since entering this race, I have worked hard to earn support across the district. That includes the support of the former holder of the office. It also includes the support of the Berkshire County District Attorney, sheriff, and clerk of courts, among many others. They didn’t endorse me because I am part of some establishment. I am the challenger in this race! I only met these Berkshire County leaders through this campaign. They endorsed me because they know I will get the job done.
My biggest campaign workers and boosters are my husband, my sisters, my mother, my in-laws, and my close friends and family. They have been amazing and helped me organize my events, design logos, and meet voters. Along the way, I’ve been honored to earn support from grassroots leaders in Northampton such as Elizabeth Silver and Marjorie Hess, who have written of their own letters in support of my campaign. Because of this work, I have outraised the incumbent by a large margin, and earned support from all over the district. I won’t apologize for the support I have earned, and I certainly won’t allow the incumbent to dismiss our success as being attributed to the work of insiders.
The support I have earned says something about my record and how hard I have worked in this campaign. If my campaign is successful, it will be because of my hard work and the help of my family and supporters. I am extremely proud of that.
I humbly ask for your vote on Sept. 1.
Attorney Michael Fenton of Springfield is a candidate for Governor’s Councillor for District 8.