NORTHAMPTON — The mayors of Northampton and Easthampton are part of a group of Massachusets mayors that have endorsed U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., in his bid for reelection.
Twenty mayors around the commonwealth, including Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz and Easthampton Mayor Nicole Lachapelle, declared their support for Markey in a letter released Wednesday by Markey’s campaign.
“Whether he is leading on climate solutions, or working to secure community development funding for our cities, our residents and neighbors are always at the core of Ed’s fights,” the mayors’ endorsement reads.
“It was a simple choice,” LaChapelle said of her endorsement. “I feel like he has the depth and the relationships in D.C. to get even more done at a time when our privacy rights need to be protected, as well as we need more treatment money for opioids and, of course, climate change.” She praised Markey for cosponsoring the Green New Deal. “That resolution speaks volumes to why I’m supporting him.”
Narkewicz had already endorsed Markey in October, saying at the time that the Democratic senator “has been a leading voice in Washington on behalf of the people of Massachusetts.”
Western Massachusetts mayors in the group endorsing Markey also include Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer and North Adams Mayor Tom Bernard.
U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III is challenging Markey in the state Democratic Senate primary. Kennedy currently represents the 4th Congressional District, an area in eastern Massachusetts. Workers’ rights lawyer Shannon Liss-Riordan was also running but announced earlier this month that she was dropping out of the race.
LaChapelle and Narkewicz are also supporting Elizabeth Warren in the Democratic presidential primary. Narkewicz tweeted earlier this month that the two mayors were knocking on doors for Warren in Keene, New Hampshire.
Greta Jochem can be reached at gjochem@gazettenet.com.