Senate race kicks off for area hopeful Mike Valanzola

Senate race kicks off for area hopeful Mike Valanzola

Eryn Dion
News Staff Writer

 State senate hopeful Mike Valanzola of Wales recently  launched his campaign for office.  Worcester County Sheriff Lewis Evangelidis has offered Mr. Valanzola his official endorsement and support.

TEMPLETON — State senate hopeful Mike Valanzola set off on a whirlwind tour throughout the region to kick-off his campaign — stopping in town, at the Country Store yesterday morning.

Mr. Valanzola, accompanied by Worcester County Sheriff Lewis Evangelidis, met with residents inside the store and used his small town roots growing up in Wales to connect with his possible future constituents.

“Templeton’s a city next to where I’m from,” he said.

When asked about Templeton specifically, residents in attendance expressed concerns over the town’s $505,000 budget shortfall and how Mr. Valanzola planned to help them.


“The first thing we need to do for towns like Templeton is make sure that local aid is a priority,” he stated, citing a 40-percent cut in local aid to municipalities over the years as one of the policies he hopes to correct if elected to office. Mr. Valanzola also discussed his experience overcoming a $200,000 shortfall while he served on the Select Board in Wales.

A graduate of Emmanuel College in Boston, Mr. Valanzola served two terms as a Wales selectman and is now the Tantasqua Regional School Committee District Chairman. He is also a senior manager at EMC Corporation, which he said will help him advocate for his communities.

“Having been a selectmen and being on the school committee, I see what the policies on Beacon Hill can do to small towns like ours,” he added.

According to Mr. Valanzola politicians are leaving behind their blue-collar constituents — a perspective that hurts towns such as Templeton.

“There’s a climate on Beacon Hill that doesn’t appreciate that lifestyle,” he explained.

Templeton resident Jerry Wictoski asked the candidate, “So you feel like there’s something west of Route 128?”

Mr. Valanzola responded by saying, “I’ve lived in this part of the state my entire life, so I know how great things are west of (Route) 128.”

Traveling with the candidate was Sheriff Evangelidis, who gave his official endorsement, saying Mr. Valanzola “would make a great state senator.”

The pair have an established working relationship, with Mr. Valanzola working on several of the sheriff’s campaigns. Sheriff Evangelidis said it was the his turn to return the favor.

“(Mr. Valanzola and his family) are one of us,” Sheriff Evangelidis said.

The senate seat Mr. Valanzola is seeking — currently occupied by Sen. Stephen Brewer, D-Barre — is the second largest district in the state. It encompasses 28 communities, stretches from Ashby to Wales and includes Ashburnham, Athol, Hubbardston, Templeton and Winchendon.

While the area may seem daunting, Mr. Valanzola is excited at the prospect of getting to know each community throughout his election bid.

“The great thing about this campaign, is the opportunity to get into the 28 towns ... My approach is that every town matters,” he said.

On Tuesday, Mr. Valanzola announced his campaign in Paxton at 8 a.m. and traveled through Rutland, Hubbardston, Templeton, Winchendon, Athol, Ware and Palmer before wrapping up with an official kickoff rally in Sturbridge. He said his approach was not a one-time event, but roaming through the district would be the norm of his campaign.

State senate hopeful Mike Valanzola of Wales  recently  launched his campaign for office. While in Templeton, on Tuesday, Mr. Valanzola stopped to talk to local diners.