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In western Massachusetts, there are very few contested state legislative races on the ballot in November. And many of those lack serious competition. 

That's not the case in the 4th Hampden House District, where Republican incumbent Kelly Pease faces a stiff challenge from his Democratic rival, Bridget Matthews-Kane.

The district includes almost all of Westfield, and the entire town of Southampton.

With primary season concluding early this month, attention is now turning to the general election in Massachusetts. However, the commonwealth’s western end has few competitive general election contests. Some contests do not even feature candidates from both major parties. One exception is the 4^th Hampden House district, where the Democratic challenger has quietly outraised the GOP incumbent.

Democrat Bridget Matthews-Kane, the Westfield City Councilor for Ward 3, had entered the race with . . .

"A few years ago, when Matthews-Kane noticed that Blue Star Families was hosting events in Boston and Newport, Rhode Island, she started advocating for the organization to bring its programs to the western part of the state.

“I hope military-connected families come to this second Blue Star Families Welcome Week event at the Westfield Starbucks by the Pike. It’s a great way to meet similar families and build community" . . . Matthews-Kane said.

SOUTHAMPTON — A new Democratic candidate for state representative will challenge Republican Rep. Kelly Pease in this year’s election for a seat representing the 4th Hampden District on Beacon Hill. Currently serving in her third term as the Ward 3 City Councilor on the Westfield City Council, Bridget Matthews-Kane says she is ready to take her leadership to a higher level.

WESTFIELD—While introducing Bridget Matthews-Kane Tuesday evening at the Shortstop Bar & Grill, former Springfield Mayor, one-time Governor’s Councilor and retired judge Mary Hurley touted the candidate’s biography. She explained how the three-term city councilor and State House hopeful has deep family roots here and across Hampden County.

"I'm really not running against my opponent - I'm running for the position,” she said. “I want to run on it based on the strengths that I bring to the table. If you look at my record on the city council, you can see I'm a doer who accomplishes things. I listen to my constituents, I come up with ways to address their concerns and I am able to bring solutions to the table that pass council.”

WESTFIELD — City Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane recently announced she will run for state representative in the district that includes Southampton and most of Westfield.

She will run as a Democrat. The district is currently represented by state Rep. Kelly Pease (R-Westfield), who confirmed he will run for reelection.

WESTFIELD — City Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane announced this week that she is running as a Democrat for state representative in the district that includes Southampton and most of Westfield.

Matthews-Kane, who was elected in 2023 to her third term as Ward 3 councilor, said she started considering a bid for the state House after a constituent asked her to run.

Western Massachusetts has seen two legislators retire this cycle. Another two have confirmed primary challenges. All four seats are uber-Democratic. Indeed, few of the region’s incumbents face much risk in the general election. But now, one of the region’s true swing seats, anchored in Westfield, a swing community itself, will have a contest. 

City Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane, a Democrat, will run . . .

“I’m really pleased that a constituent of mine, Gilbert Rodriguez, thought of this idea. We had to wait for the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail to be completed,” said Ward 2 Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane. She said she had letters of support from the chief of police, the Westfield Puerto Rican Association, the Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail and most importantly from his family.

WESTFIELD — In a departure from its usual practice, the City Council voted on Oct. 19 in support of a resolution by Ward 3 Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane condemning the Nationalist Social Club, the group responsible for distributing antisemitic hate leaflets on Western Avenue near Westfield State University.

“It’s better not to be silent about this, but to say exactly where we stand. We need to be crystal clear that we oppose this,” Matthews-Kane said.

WESTFIELD — Ward 3 City Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane was thrilled at the turnout of military family members and veterans for Blue Star Families celebration of Military Welcome Week at Starbucks on Southampton Road in Westfield on Wednesday morning.

Matthews-Kane, whose husband is a drilling reservist with the Marines, reached out to Blue Star Families New England Chapter Executive Director Jeffrey Chin six months ago about bringing the organization and their programs to Western Massachusetts a

According to Westfield Mayor Michael McCabe the conversation started in Ward 3 with Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane simply asking about speeds in the CORE District and surrounding streets, specifically Grand Street, where the speed limit is 30 mph.

“A couple of years ago, Gov. [Charlie] Baker essentially removed the state’s formula on speed under Chapter 90-17 and allowed the city or town governance systems to change speed limits according to the community’s best use.

WESTFIELD — The state of Ward 3 was the topic of a meeting March 30 hosted by Ward 3 City Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane.

About 30 residents filled the Westfield Athenaeum’s Lang Auditorium to hear updates on construction, policing and more. Matthews-Kane spoke and fielded questions from the audience, along with Westfield Police Lt. Eric Hall and Officer John Blascak, Ward 3 Municipal Light Board Commissioner Dawn Renaudette and City Engineer Allison McMordie.

WESTFIELD — The City Council voted unanimously last week to extend the demolition delay for properties of historical significance, from 90 days to 180 days.

The motion was initiated by Ward 3 Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane in 2022. During public participation at the start of the March 16 meeting, a dozen residents spoke and wrote letters in support of the extended delay time.

WESTFIELD — On weekends downtown, shoppers may have been fortunate enough to run across Westfield High School students busking for their band. The Busking Project, initiated by Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane, has taken off, and is bringing extra joy to the holiday shopping season.

Matthews-Kane said she spoke to WHS Band Director Patrick Kennedy, who brought in senior Samantha Adamtsev to take charge of the project.

WESTFIELD — Allowing business signs that stick out from their buildings could bring back some of the classic feel to Westfield’s downtown, City Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane said in proposing a zoning amendment this month.

“You see them in other downtowns that are real destination downtowns,” Matthews-Kane said at the council’s Oct. 20 meeting.

WESTFIELD – City Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane May 24 hosted her first ward 3 meeting since elected.

Matthews-Kane said she was happy to bring people together in-person at Stanley Park. She said while the park is just outside her ward boundaries, she wanted to meet in an outdoor covered space.