AMHERST – Working on the largest conservation deal in the state’s history earned state representative candidate Sarah la Cour an endorsement from a former official in Gov. Deval Patrick’s administration.
Mary Griffin, who served as commissioner for the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game and is the former executive director of the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition, on Wednesday issued a statement supporting la Cour, one of six candidates, all Democrats, running for the 3rd Hampshire District seat held by Rep. Ellen Story. She announced her retirement in January.
The 3rd Hampshire District covers Amherst, Pelham and Precinct 1 in Granby. The primary election will be held Sept. 8.
“Today I’m endorsing Sarah la Cour for state rep because I know she has exactly what it takes to advance public policy, manage important projects and conserve the environment,” Griffin said.
La Cour ,now executive director of the Amherst Business Improvement District, was director of conservation and planning at W.D. Cowls, Inc. during the four years of negotiations between the company and conservationists that led to selling the conservation rights on 3,486 acres in Leverett and Shutesbury for $8.8 million.
La Cour said in a statement that conservation is good for the region.
“When we preserve our natural resources we protect the water that we drink, significant wildlife habitats and trees that sequester carbon,” la Cour said. “We’re also making our region a place where students want to come study, where families want to raise their kids, and where people of all ages want to visit.”
The other candidates competing for the seat are School Committee member Vira Douangmany Cage; recent Brown University graduate and former Amherst School Committee member Solomon Goldstein-Rose; professional property title examiner Bonnie MacCracken; Belchertown High School teacher and former Amherst School Committee member Lawrence O’Brien; and former Massachusetts Broadband Institute Executive Director Eric Nakajima.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
