Rep. Brian Ashe hosts first re-election fundraiser

Date: 12/21/2009

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



GREATER SPRINGFIELD - State Rep. Brian Ashe (D-Longmeadow) is in the middle of his first term representing the 2nd Hampden District and he's gearing up to stand for the district again. Ashe hosted a fundraiser at Romito & Sons in East Longmeadow on Dec. 14, and the freshman representative saw nearly 70 supporters come to the event.

Attendees included Lt. Gov. Tim Murray, State Sen. Stephen Buoniconti, Hampden County Clerk of Courts Brian Lees and State Reps. Rosemary Sandlin and Angelo Puppolo.

Ashe won the open seat in 2008, and he plans to keep it come 2010.

"The first term has been fantastic," Ashe said. "It's been a real learning experience."

He said the best part of his first term as a state representative was the work in Boston and in the district -- which includes Longmeadow, Hampden, Monson and parts of East Longmeadow and Springfield -- but he prefers working with his constituents in the district.

"I enjoy being with the people I work with and for. It's important for me to be face to face with them," Ashe said.

Jim Driscoll of the East Longmeadow Board of Selectmen said that was one of the reasons he supports Ashe.

"Every time I call him he answers or he calls back," Driscoll said. "I support him because he's accessible and responsive."

Driscoll added that he thought there is "no better representative for East Longmeadow than someone who has served on a Board of Selectmen and realizes the trials and tribulations that towns go through on every dollar spent."

Ashe told Reminder Publications he was proud of being involved with the transportation and ethics reform the state underwent this year and that his main goal in the next year is to aid in economic recovery.

"I just took a one week furlough," he stated. "Doing things like that is still something I believe in." As a Select Board member in Longmeadow, Ashe once returned a $2,000 stipend to illustrate he was willing to sacrifice to help his town. He said taking the furlough let him set an example for the rest of the state.

Assistant District Attorney Stephen Spelman, who recently announced his bid for District Attorney, said he supports Ashe because he's "energetic, collegial and has the best interest of his constituents at heart."

"He's a hard-working rep who does a great job," Spelman stated.

Ashe said he plans to work hard to see the economy turn around in the Commonwealth and bring funds back to his district. One place he'd like to see money go: the new Longmeadow High School project.

"It'll be nice to have something on the agenda to support when the money comes back," he said.

For more information on Ashe, visit www.votebrianashe.com.