Reilly tours local testing lab

By Erin O'Connor

Staff Writer

AGAWAM Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Tom Reilly joined Congressman Richard Neal on June 6 at the MicroTest Laboratories on Gold Street to tour the company's laboratories and for Reilly to discuss his plans to create jobs and grow the economy in western Massachusetts and the entire Commonwealth.

"We need to build off of our strengths," said Reilly. MicroTest is a company that provides testing services and contract manufacturing for the medical device, pharmaceutical, biotechnology industries globally.

"We need to keep pace with the emerging technology and the changes in the economy," said Reilly.

"There is no substitute for local problems then for a guy who understands local issues," said Neal in speaking of Reilly.

"Since 2001 there have been 150,000 jobs lost in Massachusetts," Reilly said, "This puts us 45th in the country as far as job growth."

"We need to grow this economy and work force," said Reilly, "Growth will happen with companies of this size," he said in speaking of MicroTest.

"In expanding the MicroTest facility we have created from 55 to 95 jobs. With the new expansions there will be 130-140 employees on site," said John Dobiecki, vice president of manufacturing.

"Western Massachusetts needs care and attention," Reilly said, "The strengths are here that we need to start with."

Building off of academic institutions such as UMASS and medical centers like Baystate were specific areas of growth that Reilly talked about.

He spoke of developing a partnership between public and private sectors and medical facilities.

"What will bring the jobs back home is a governor who will tap into it and get western Massachusetts back on track again," said Reilly.

Reilly was asked about campaign spending limits and how Christopher Gabrieli, Democratic gubernatorial candidate from Boston and founder of Ironwood Equity Fund, had refused to accept campaign contributions.

"Campaigns are too expensive now. I did offer to enter into an agreement for a spending limit of $1.5 Million," said Reilly.

In response to how he is doing in competing for the gubernatorial seat Reilly said,"I'm pretty use to it. I'll just have to take them on (opponents) two at a time."