Thank you to the residents of Westfield and Southampton who honored me with their vote to be the state representative of the 4th Hampden District. I’m grateful for their confidence in me.

I also appreciate our many volunteers for their efforts. I’m thankful they believed in our vision and were willing to work hard to achieve it. It was one of the many blessings of the campaign that I met so many wonderful new people. I’m sorry we did not achieve what we set out to do, but we can continue to work together to achieve progress for our community.

Thank you as well to my family. They were willing to sacrifice time with me so I could focus on the campaign trail, and they were proud to see me follow in my family’s tradition of public service. Family, both near and far, did so much to support and encourage me, and for that, I am extremely grateful.

Congratulations to Kelly Pease on his win. When I called him the night of the election, I wished him the best in his third term. I hope he brings positive change to Westfield and Southampton.

One truism is that candidates running for political office should think through how the campaign will leave the community stronger, regardless of the outcome. Our team gained new expertise, trained many volunteers, established coalitions, and argued for effective change. I know these skills, alliances and conversations will persist long after this one election.

In closing, I knocked on 3,500 doors, and one thing was clear to me: Many people are struggling and frustrated. We must find ways to provide real results to ease their burdens. I think it’s government’s job to make life better for people, and I hope that change happens in the coming years. I look forward to continuing to serve Westfield as the Ward 3 city councilor and working for the community in that capacity.

Bridget Matthews-Kane

Westfield