West Springfield Democrat enters race for Senate
Date: 4/20/2010
April 21, 2010.By Katelyn Gendron
Reminder Assistant Editor
WEST SPRINGFIELD -- Another Democrat has announced his candidacy for State Sen. Stephen Buoniconti's seat, upping the primary to three candidates this fall.
Ron Patenaude, 53, president of United Auto Workers Local 2322 and a resident of West Springfield, will take on State Rep. James Welch and Susan Dawson, former mayor of Agawam, for the right to represent the Democrats in the election for the Senate's Hampden District, which serves Agawam, Chicopee, Springfield and West Springfield.
"After conversations with many friends and associates and much personal reflections, I have come to the conclusion that my experiences as a worker in the healthcare field, as a union representative fighting for workers rights and as the owner of a small business make me uniquely suited to fight for the interests of the working families, small business owners and underrepresented citizens of the Hampden District," Patenaude said.
"I am not a professional politician and my aim when elected will be to perform my duties as a public servant, to serve the needs of my constituents, rather than those of the corporate interests whose influence seems to permeate the Legislature and influences the legislation they write," he continued.
Patenaude said his core values are in direct correlation with those of his potential constituents. He's committed to job growth, fair wages, quality education, clean environment, healthcare for all and transparency in government.
When asked what he thinks of his competition among Democrats, Patenaude replied, "[Dawson] lost her primary [election for mayor last fall] and I think that speaks volumes of her [credibility].
"Jim is a nice guy but I don't see him as having done anything significant legislatively and I don't think that would change in the Senate," he continued.
"I think this is a fight to bring back the things that ordinary, everyday people need and to give people a voice that don't have one [on Beacon Hill] anymore," Patenaude said.
Patenaude, along with his Democratic competitors Welch and Dawson, have until April 27 to return their nomination papers to be eligible for elections this fall.
Republicans Kenneth Condon of West Springfield, Joel McAuliffe of Chicopee, and Robert Magovern and Vincenzo Tirone of Agawam have also taken out papers. John Caesan of Agawam has taken out papers as an Independent.
