patrick white

Online or by mail: Patrick Thomas White Committee • 81 Hawthorne St. • Lenox, MA 01240

Election Letters

Here are the letters published in support of my election for state representative

Berkshire Edge, August 23, 2024

Ed Abrahams endorses Patrick White

To the editor:

On September 3—sooner if you are early voting—there is a Democratic primary to fill Smitty Pignitelli's seat. I am endorsing Patrick White.

I am voting for Patrick because he is a creative problem solver (ask him how we can reduce the tax burden of a new high school); he is always listening (ask anyone who has disagreed with him, including me, about his respect for different opinions and his willingness to learn); and because he meets challenges by bringing people together rather than by dividing. For those reasons, he is the clear best choice.

Please vote on September 3. And please consider voting for Patrick.

Ed Abrahams, Great Barrington

Berkshire Eagle, August 20, 2024

'Both Sides Now': Patrick White is the Judy Collins candidate

To the editor:

At the risk of lightening up the discourse, I offer the following: When I think of the upcoming Judy Collins concert, Patrick White comes to mind. Allow me to explain. I would like to add my voice in support of Patrick White in his quest to succeed Smitty Pignatelli as the 3rd Berkshire District's state representative in the Democratic primary coming up on September 3.

I won't bore everyone with a recitation of Patrick's many achievements, qualifications, etc. What I believe makes Patrick the singularly best candidate is his ability and penchant for what I call the "deep dive." He has an amazing capacity for the minutia of issues and will invest as much time and research as necessary to flesh out both sides of an issue and will communicate what he has unearthed in a clear and comprehensive manner for his constituents to digest.

As a Stockbridge resident, I have watched Patrick represent many issues in this manner, taking an even-handed "Both Sides Now" approach. He understands his role as an elected official in a representative democracy and is not afraid to break new ground to initiate a dialogue regarding difficult or complex policy initiatives. The residential tax exemption is a notable example, as was the controversy on how best to treat our beloved Stockbridge Bowl's invasive weeds. Patrick did not get "married" to a predetermined outcome in either case but endeavored to make sure a thorough discussion of all aspects took place. It is this advocacy of "Both Sides Now" of important issues which leads me to the admittedly pithy moniker that Patrick be considered the "Judy Collins" candidate. Please join me in voting for Patrick White on September 3.

Alan O'Brient, Stockbridge

Berkshire Edge, August 20, 2024

Support those who stepped up

To the editor:

The General Electric-proposed PCB cleanup is a dire issue that has been at the forefront of local concerns for years. When the proposal was first floated, some of our elected officials stepped up immediately. Among them were Lee Select Board member Bob Jones and Stockbridge Select Board member Patrick White. They recognized the many new problems this proposed "solution" would create for those who live here and stood up for us without hesitation.

While everyone is grateful for other officials' new-found support, we note that, coincidentally, it comes close to election day.

This problem is serious and will impact all who live along the river corridor. We would do well to put trust in those who had our backs, even when it was not politically expedient.

Brent Wiggans, Stockbridge

Why I support Patrick White for 3rd Berkshire representative

Berkshire Eagle, August 20, 2024

To the editor: In the final weeks before the campaigning ends and our representatives are elected, I wanted to share a bit about Patrick White's diligence regarding a public safety matter.

While no candidate can be an expert in all topics, it is important to hang on to the ones who are most adept at finding the right resources to get the best, most current information with which to solve matters before them. My experience with Patrick White, with whom I grew up in Stockbridge, is that he is just the type of candidate we can always count on to have the depth of resources and fine set of critical thinking skills to know how to handle important matters, especially ones involving the safety of the county's citizens.

As someone who has been an FBI agent for more than 20 years, I was impressed that Patrick thought about his vast list of resources and called to talk about the line where federal law enforcement should become involved versus keeping a matter more local. He quickly assimilated the information and used it in his strategy to mitigate a potential threat. From my point of view, his process was thorough, reasonable, expedient and mostly it demonstrated the deep care he has for his fellow citizens — not just special interest groups or factions, but all citizens in Berkshire County. It is for these reasons that I strongly support Patrick White for Berkshire County state representative.

Julie Blanchard Patton, Stockbridge

Berkshire Eagle, August 20, 2024

Letter: Patrick White has proven he can help 3rd District

To the editor: There's an old piece of advice that still rings true today — if you need help getting something done, ask the busiest person you know.

For me, that person is twice-elected Stockbridge Select Board member and Berkshire County native Patrick White.

I have known Patrick for 12 years, admiring his determination to balance advocacy for environmental protection (volunteering for the Laurel Hill Association, spearheading efforts to save old growth forests, preserving open space) with his passion to help make peoples' lives better (keeping taxes low, encouraging job growth, increasing affordable housing).

Patrick uses his unusually wide-ranging and successful business experience — gained in Boston — to find innovative ways to increase economic support for housing, education and the arts in the Berkshires.

Please help make Patrick White our new state representative by voting for him in the Sept. 3 primary.

Barney Edmonds, Stockbridge

Berkshire Edge, August 15, 2024

A rebuttal to July 30 Letter to the Editor

To the editor:

Recently in The Berkshire Edge, Leigh Davis challenged assertions made by Patrick White, a fellow candidate for the 3rd Berkshire District seat in the State House. The decision to debate one of her opponents for the seat through a letter to this publication struck me as inappropriate, and since Patrick White will likely not choose the letters section of a local newspaper to debate policy, and since no one else has bothered to challenge Ms. Davis' assertions, I will do it for him.

Among the subjects in Ms. Davis' letter were her actions on housing and the local environment, as well as the Estate Recovery Act, a law within Medicaid wherein states can sue the estates of MassHealth patients without the ability to pay for care. Patrick White wrote an open letter to introduce many of his constituents to this law, which has the potential to affect many of us.

Aside from calling Mr. White alarmist, Ms. Davis states, "MassHealth will not pursue recovery from any estate of $25,000 or less ..." Okay great. Now, we know that estates usually include a home. So, ask yourself: What home in Great Barrington (I use Great Barrington because it is where I reside) is worth $25,000 or less? The 2020 U.S. Census states 11 out of 2,156 owner occupied homes.

She further states, "... and [MassHealth] may grant a hardship waiver if pursuing recovery against even a larger estate [larger than $25,000] would be unduly hard on the member's family." This is true and would be to the benefit of a spouse or dependent living in the house belonging to a deceased patient as long as the person living in the home is blind or is an heir with income below 133 percent of the federal poverty level ($20,030) for two years while living in the patient's home (see here). It is also true if the same person earns under 400 percent the federal poverty level (less than $60,240). Let's keep in mind that the latest American Community Survey (2022) shows a household median income in Great Barrington of $74,205.

Given that the the Census-derived median value of a home in Great Barrington is $431,600, and that many dependents of retirees are entrepreneurs or professionals earning above the poverty level of $15,060 for a single person, I feel confident in saying that the Estate Recovery Act would apply to a large portion of the population of Great Barrington, if not most of South County. So, it was absolutely correct for Patrick White to bring this potentially catastrophic policy to our attention and to urge federal and state leaders to support intergenerational homeownership and wealth. I would hope that if Ms. Davis wins the seat that she would do the same.

The title given to Ms. Davis' letter also struck me: "South County needs someone who can really turn concerns into policy." The only policy I know of that she has written in her two terms on the Selectboard in Great Barrington is a bylaw regulating short-term rentals, the effect of that law being dubious when compared to its stated goals. The lasting effects of the push to approval remain the division that it caused in the community and the dollars that it has added to the town's already constrained budget. She adds, "I went to bat for [the Town of Lee] and successfully persuaded the Great Barrington Selectboard to support the Town of Lee's request to release the Rest of River executive session minutes." This is also not policy. Her "fight" to "protect" Great Barrington from horse racing is also not policy, but her fight did cost the town the amount it takes to hold a special Town Meeting. Did she bother to ask Smitty Pignatelli or Adam Hinds (senator at the time) to go to bat for Great Barrington to avoid gambling and horse racing?

And on housing, let's stick to Ms. Davis' record as a public official, not a private citizen, which is what she mentions in the letter. Ms. Davis has voted down support for the construction of affordable-housing units on Main Street with Community Preservation Act money and voted to deny the opportunity for the construction of at least 10 extra houses on a town-funded project in Housatonic. Now, I understand that there was concern from the neighbors about density and overcrowding, but the site in question could legally, according to our zoning bylaw, accept up to 66 dwellings. The Planning Board had recommended the project be increased by 10 houses, a density still substantially less than the majority of Housatonic. That is 10 extra families that will not have a housing opportunity in town, let alone contribute taxes, because the plan was voted down by the Selectboard.

Ms. Davis is a champion for housing; she raises the issue with great frequency and has made housing part of her professional life. Unfortunately, when it comes time to make difficult decisions concerning the actual creation of affordable housing, her record is not so good. And let's not forget her abstention from voting on the issuance of a license to sell beer and wine at Price Chopper.

If she were to win the 3rd Berkshire District seat, I am sure Ms. Davis would work diligently for the district. I just hope that if it comes to pass, she realizes that accomplishing her goals will not be any easier if she alienates colleagues with less-than-accurate accusations in a public forum. Win or lose, she will have to work with Mr. White as a state representative or select board member in the future. And she will likely have to work with me too.

Pedro Pachano, Great Barrington

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The Berkshire Edge, August 16, 2024

Patrick White cares about the Housatonic River... and us

To the editor:

Patrick White sent me out-of-the-blue testimony that he cares about the river and will fight for it.

Leigh Davis seemed to get defensive when people asked questions to ascertain her level of commitment to the river, and didn't provide answers beyond her website. It seems that Leigh has acquiesced to the dump, but at least with Patrick we have a fighting chance.

People want to know where the candidates stand on the issues. People wonder what they have done that shows commitment. Patrick talks about the river with Tim Gray and Bob Jones and has stated his position clearly. We need clarity in this issue and someone who will fight for the river.

Sage Radachowsky, New Marlborough

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The Berkshire Edge, August 15, 2024

Patrick White: advocating for us, addressing our challenges

To the editor:

I am writing to express my support for Patrick White for the 3rd Berkshire District state representative seat.

When considering endorsements from various legislative lobby groups, voters should reflect on their nature and origin.

While endorsements from these state organizations are well intentioned, they are often guided by broader legislative agendas that may not perfectly align with the local priorities of our district towns. These groups provide valuable perspectives, but their scope does not necessarily encompass the unique challenges and issues we face in our communities. Their priorities are set on a scale that, while relevant, is not tailored to the intricacies of local governance and needs.

Patrick White's dedication to our district is deeply rooted in understanding these local concerns, demonstrated through his proactive leadership in several critical areas.

For instance, Patrick White was an early intervenor on behalf of Housatonic Water Works customers, advocating for transparency, accountability, and fairness. As a vocal intervenor for the Housatonic River Corridor residents, he exposed the risks of the PCB dump, and his advocacy earned endorsements from Bob Jones and Sean Regnier of the Lee Select Board. Moreover, he has taken significant steps in Stockbridge to address infrastructure challenges, ensuring that all bridges are either repaired or undergoing repairs to prevent potential closures that could disrupt or endanger residents.

His commitment is to represent our specific interests and ensure that our voices are heard and influential in shaping the policies that affect our daily lives.

As we consider our choices for representation, let us recognize the unmatched value of a genuinely immersed candidate rooted in our community. Vote Patrick White, a true advocate for our home.

Mary McGurn, Egremont

The Berkshire Edge, August 15, 2024

Patrick White made local history with this 'pocketbook' policy for Stockbridge

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To the editor:

I'm writing in support of Patrick White as the Democratic candidate for State Representative for the 3rd Berkshire District. Though Patrick can be commended for many achievements as a Stockbridge Select Board member—including protecting our natural environment and enhancing infrastructure resilience—I would like to focus on a "pocketbook" policy for Stockbridge workers that has thus far not received a lot of attention.

In 2023 Patrick proposed and inserted a cost of living (COLA)-plus-0.5 percent pay increase into the town's union contracts, prompted by his observation that, during COVID, the inflation rate over three years was 17 percent, with union contracts only calling for a two percent annual increase. He recognized that this was wrong and made the case for why it was in the town's interest to increase pay as a retention and recruiting strategy.

By passing a COLA-plus-0.5 percent contract raise, over the course of 20 years, Patrick enabled Stockbridge union employees to experience a 10 percent increase in real purchasing power. He then used that precedent to establish pay equity for the town's non-union workers, many of whom are female and work in secretarial positions.

While Patrick was leading with this initiative, what did his opponents from other towns do for their workers? They, like most Berkshire County select board members, negotiated contracts with a two to three percent annual raise—a move that resulted in workers' loss of purchasing power every single year, especially when inflation persists. Here are the numbers that bear this out: During three years of COVID, the cost of living rose 17 percent. With a two to three percent annual raise, that three-year contract cost town workers anywhere from an eight to an 11 percent loss in purchasing power. With a COLA-plus-0.5 percent increase, that same worker will gain, not lose, purchasing power every single year.

Patrick made local history with this decision. He was willing to incur the wrath of area town managers (which he received)—and the risk of reelection—because he believes in supporting the workers who live here. That he was reelected to the Stockbridge Select Board in a landslide proves that his community appreciated his commitment.

By electing Patrick White on September 3, we will expand the impact of that commitment by choosing a leader who will prioritize the economic wellbeing of workers throughout the 3rd Berkshire District.

Michele Marantz, Dalton

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Berkshire Eagle, August 13, 2024

Patrick White would be a good climate warrior for the Berkshires

To the editor: The effects of climate change — storms, heat, pathogens closing down our beaches — will be drawn into sharper focus by what's coming down the pike (pun intended) in climate change legislation from Beacon Hill.

The Healey administration has taken on the mandate of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and they mean business. The clean energy siting bill did not pass this session, but the version passed by the Senate in June would replace the current process of local permitting with new state offices charged with ensuring "thorough and community-centered review."

Patrick White is one of three Berkshire representatives on the state's climate advisory board. He is concerned that climate change infrastructure like solar and wind and unforeseen technologies could be built at the expense of our forests. He sees our natural environment as central to our well-being. I believe he would fight to protect that which is essential to our Berkshires spirit while working with the state on an equitable transition to clean energy. He is a proven champion of forests and a fighter for clean water in his ongoing work on PCB issues and the drinking water crisis in Housatonic.

Clean water, resilient forests, a livable climate, a renewed economic base built on climate change technology — this could be our children's future if we work toward that vision. Patrick White is on the front lines. He is a serious man. And a serious optimist.

Please vote for Patrick White for the 3rd Berkshire District state representative, because we need to be ready for what's coming.

Nancy Smith, Sheffield

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The Berkshire Edge, August 12, 2024

We need Patrick White's critical thinking skills in Boston to face the rural health crisis

To the editor:

I am writing to give my full support to Patrick White running for state representative the 3rd Berkshire District.

As a recently retired public health doctor who has dedicated his career to assuring that quality healthcare is available and accessible to all, I found Patrick White to have the insight and awareness of this very complex crisis we face in Berkshire County.

In speaking with Patrick on several occasions, I found him to be thoughtful, intelligent, and honest about the role state government can play in helping to address this crisis. He understands that recruitment must come with retention of healthcare practitioners. To attract and retain practitioners to the rural communities of the Berkshires, we must consider their families, affordable housing, loan forgiveness in exchange for a time commitment. Perhaps, we must work with medical schools to engage with future practitioners, providing insight into the practice opportunities of rural medicine in primary care, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and geriatric medicine.

In addition, Patrick opened up the discussion to include first responders from the various towns throughout the Berkshires as a key link with practitioners in rural communities.

Patrick White has demonstrated to me that he understands this issue and all its complexities, asking insightful and intelligent questions, ready to build realistic solutions with all the stakeholders.

We need the type of critical thinking and demonstrated abilities that Patrick White has to represent the rural communities of western Massachusetts in Boston on this and many other critical issues.

Timothy G Wighton, M.D., Dr.PH, Otis

The Berkshire Edge, August 12, 2024

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Patrick White is the most qualified candidate

To the editor:

I believe that many of the towns in the Berkshires are facing unprecedented challenges in their illustrious history: unaffordable housing, aging infrastructures that need tremendous influxes of capital, an aging population that needs to find ways to attract and keep younger generations in the area, environmental consequences of global warming, etc. The list goes on and on. The Berkshires are at a critical junction as a county, as much as we are at a critical point as a nation. The decisions we make today will ultimately impact the future for generations to come. I urge voters to choose the best qualified candidate to represent us in Boston, rather than making it a popularity contest. We need a candidate that understands politics, but also understands the needs of the community. We need a candidate that has the experience and intellectual capacity to weigh different problems and solutions and to implement them, even if they are not popular choices. Patrick White is that candidate. If you have met Patrick and spoken to him, it is clear he will try to choose the right road, even if it is not the road well travelled, or the one with fancy rest stops along the way. We need someone that will make decisions based on what is right for our future and the future of our children. Vote wisely.

Andrew Berens, Housatonic

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Berkshire Eagle, August 13, 2024

Patrick White is a candidate we can trust

To the editor: Long before the race for Berkshire 3rd District state representative began, I've known Patrick White to be deeply interested in learning about the concerns of people — not just the people of Stockbridge that he represents as a member of that Select Board but people in surrounding towns as well.

My contact with Patrick White began when he emerged as a champion for residents who have long suffered unsafe water issues in Stockbridge, West Stockbridge and Great Barrington. We are a vulnerable community, unrepresented by town officials who have been in a position, for many years, to utilize their influence and jurisdiction to protect our public health. For years, we waited for updates that would offer real hope that water insecurity would not last forever. Patrick has been the only town official I've known who was willing to speak out, speak for and speak to us about what needs to be done. He is not the kind of representative who secrets his opinions in "executive session."

Donna Jacobs, Great Barrington

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Berkshire Eagle, July 27, 2024

White has skills, experience, passion to be 3rd Berkshire rep.

To the editor: We are excited to endorse Patrick White for 3rd Berkshire state representative and encourage all Democrats and independents to vote for him on Sept. 3.

Patrick, a Stockbridge native, has a thorough understanding of the challenges our communities face. He is as passionate about the complexities of our affordable housing shortages as all other candidates, but he also recognizes that building affordable housing isn't the only problem affecting our communities. He knows that we must do much more.

He is the candidate who has been working on creative but solid solutions to address a list of many critical issues — from alleviating the residential tax burden and creating new local job opportunities to mitigating local environmental risks and leveraging state funds to fix our deteriorating road and bridge infrastructure.

Patrick's immediate priorities, when elected, will include adding a safety valve to property tax assessments, expanding local economic development, expanding low-interest borrowing, increasing visitor contributions, introducing a homestead exemption, pursuing technology and efficiency grants, pursuing green energy incentives and expanding payments in lieu of taxes for state-owned properties.

Patrick is well prepared for what's ahead of him since he has the strongest qualifications and a track record among all candidates. He has a degree in economics and understands how to leverage various economic and tax incentives to support our residents and local businesses. He is a successful entrepreneur well known and respected in the Boston business community, where he launched three startups. He is a long-term advocate and supporter of environmental issues and has been named one of only three individuals from Berkshire County to the state's Climate Advisory Board.

The job of our state representative comes with the responsibility to represent the best interests of 40,000 Central and South Berkshire citizens and, more importantly, to fill the shoes of Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli on day one. We need a representative with the experience, knowledge and wherewithal to take on this responsibility. Patrick White has the skills, experience and passion to get the job done.

Milena Cerna, Great Barrington
Sharon Gregory, Great Barrington
Mandy Pieczarka, Great Barrington

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Berkshire Eagle, July 27, 2024

Patrick White has shown he can advocate for his neighbors

To the editor:

I'm writing to wholeheartedly support Patrick White for our next 3rd Berkshire District representative. Patrick "walks the walk" and strives to bring basic fairness and improve the quality of life for fellow Berkshire residents. For Patrick, facing problematic realities, even when controversial or many feel helpless, is preferable to avoiding or ignoring them. He believes that positive changes need to be doggedly pursued even if achieved incrementally. He has the optimism, energy, intelligence, principles, breadth of skills, competence, and experience to be effective.

Patrick takes initiative and jumps in because he cares and is willing to put in the time and effort in to make a difference, even when success is not guaranteed. An example is the Housatonic Water Works (HWW) situation. There are just 25 Stockbridge households that are served by HWW. Without being asked, Patrick volunteered to serve as an intervenor on behalf of the ratepayers of Housatonic, West Stockbridge, and Stockbridge. He used his finance skills to comb through the HWW request for a huge rate increase; understood that the company was asking ratepayers to finance what should be its responsibility; knew that financing options existed; and testified that after paying for hefty and needed improvements, the owner would accrue the financial benefits (not the ratepayers-customers). He began this advocacy long before Smitty's seat opened up. Not for political gain, but because it was the right thing to do.

Similarly, in West Stockbridge, Patrick read about the rate increase requested by the new owner of Mill Pond Trailer Park. He realized that his expertise in this area would serve people who could not afford this increased cost of housing. His caring and advocacy combined with knowledge mattered.

I've known Patrick for a decade, and have worked with him on two non-profit boards. He is the most productive person I know. I've seen him happiest when he makes a positive difference in people's daily lives – be it driving someone somewhere, spending Saturdays as a Habitat for Humanity volunteer, or taking the time to study and respond to proposed increased housing rents or water rates on behalf of Stockbridge, West Stockbridge, and Housatonic residents.

I hope you will join me in voting for Patrick in the upcoming September 3 primary.

Laura Dubester, Stockbridge

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The Berkshire Edge, July 16, 2024

Patrick White has been a great supporter of the Mohican people and deserves to represent the 3rd Berkshire District

To the editor:

Patrick White has been a tremendous friend to the Mohican people.

We first worked with Patrick to gain local support for the return of found documents from the 18th century that were discovered in Stockbridge's Old Town Hall. He built support both locally and with the State House delegation, which culminated in a law signed by then-Gov. Charlie Baker.

I then worked with Patrick on the historic opportunity to secure 351 acres of Monument Mountain for the Tribe. Patrick privately counseled me to not settle for limited access to state-owned property, but instead to pursue the ultimately successful course of action to acquire the land on behalf of the Mohican people. Finally, after two centuries, we will once again steward land in western Massachusetts. We are grateful to the many folks in the Berkshires who helped us. Patrick was one of them.

He conceived of the Stockbridge Mohican Commission, which has been approved by both the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans' Tribal Council and the Stockbridge Select Board. He successfully advocated for new signage at Housatonic River crossings, signs that celebrate the Mohican language and include a reference to the Tribe. He is now working with our Tribal Liaison to explore the creation of a new Mohican Cultural Center in the Berkshires.

American history has been brutal to indigenous tribes. Proud patriots, Stockbridge Mohicans volunteered together 250 years ago for the Revolutionary Army, and many of them died together at a battle in southern New York. The ensuing poverty and opportunistic greed of a few resulted in our departure from Stockbridge in the early 1800s. After our own trail of tears, we eventually settled in Wisconsin, but the home of our ancestors spans the Hudson and Housatonic valleys.

Patrick has shown he understands that the hard work of reconciliation brings healing and peace. He respects the fact that we make our own history and has been a consistent supporter of ours as we reimagine for ourselves our future in Berkshire County and beyond.

We have seen local leaders come and go over and over these past 200 years. We need more like him.

I wish my friend Patrick White the best of luck as he pursues new challenges and opportunities as the State Representative for the 3rd Berkshire District.

Joe Miller, Bowler, Wisc.
Former member of The Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans' Tribal Council

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Berkshire Eagle,July 27, 2024

The Berkshire Edge, July 27, 2024

Patrick White has our backs

To the editor:

I am writing in full support of Patrick White's candidacy for our state representative for the 3rd Berkshire District. I have known Patrick for many years, long before this endeavor, and before he sat on the Stockbridge Select Board. He is a consummate professional with a background in finance. He is willing to take on challenges that face us as individual communities and those that will impact us as a region. While sitting on the Stockbridge Select Board, he has reached across town lines to address shared problems, offered suggestions and solutions, and encouraged dialogue between towns. Patrick White is a man who will take on an issue, spark essential dialogue, no matter how difficult or uncomfortable it may be.

His list of accomplishments is lengthy and impressive: working to redistribute tax burdens for local residents; creatively managing and minimizing budget increases while still implementing infrastructure improvements; procuring grant monies and other funding through his diligence and in-depth research; residential-housing initiatives; work-force housing; environmental initiatives including conservation measures, land grants (Patrick is one of three Berkshire individuals to sit on the state's climate advisory board)... The list goes on, too lengthy to detail in a brief Letter to the Editor. For details, visit Patrick's campaign website.

For those of us who are concerned about the deeply flawed Rest of River agreement, Patrick again stepped up when no one else would. The Town of Lee endeavored to open a dialogue with Sheffield, Great Barrington, Stockbridge, and Lenox to address the open-ended agreement that will impact residents in all these towns and beyond. Patrick White was the only select board member in all four of those towns who advocated for an open-meeting discussion to address the ongoing problems with the plan. He was, and is, an advocate for residents of Lee, and all of those towns. After all, it is the residents in the river corridor that will be most impacted this agreement. Patrick stood alone in his quest to bring the facts to them.

I hope my friends and neighbors in the 3rd Berkshire District will join me in voting to send Patrick White to represent us in Boston. He is tireless in his endeavors to make small-town government effective, productive, and to best serve the interests of the citizens it represents. Let's give him the opportunity to go east and bring that message to Boston. Patrick White has our backs.

Bob Jones, Lee

NOTE: Bob Jones is a member of the Lee Select Board; however, he writes the above on his own behalf and not on behalf of the Select Board.

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The Berkshire Edge, August 8, 2024

Berkshire County needs Patrick White's environmental advocacy in the State House

To the editor:

Due to my involvement with environmental issues for over 50 years, I believe that Patrick White is the candidate for state representative who will be most effective in addressing those issues of concern. Currently a member of the Green Dalton Committee, I previously led the Springfield-Longmeadow Solarize program, and as chair of the Longmeadow Select Board, I was part of the opposition (that remains ongoing) to stop Eversource from imposing an unnecessary and dangerous gas pipeline designed to run through Longmeadow into the Environmental Justice communities of Springfield.

As a concerned citizen, I have witnessed Patrick White's expertise and effectiveness in dealing with environmental issues. Patrick wrote the climate section of the Berkshire Natural Resource Council's application resulting in a $2.26 million state grant for land acquisition by the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans. Patrick was also instrumental in the preservation of the Old Growth Forest at Ice Glen, enabling Stockbridge to become the first Berkshire town in 10 years to win MMA's innovation award. Finally, as a Stockbridge Select Board member, Patrick revived key town committees on environmental conservation and recruited a dozen members to serve. Given these achievements, it is no wonder that Patrick is one of just three Berkshire County residents named to the state's new Climate Advisory Board.

Advancing renewable energy adoption, protecting our natural environment, and enhancing infrastructure resilience in the Berkshires and beyond are just three of the climate goals that Patrick has set should he be elected.

As the Massachusetts legislature recently ended its two-year session by failing to pass a climate bill, it is clear that Patrick White's advocacy and ability to deliver are needed now more than ever by the residents of the 3rd Berkshire district.

Steven Marantz, Dalton

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Berkshire Eagle,July 23, 2024

The Berkshire Edge, July 23, 2024

Patrick White knows how to get things done

To the editor:

I am writing to offer words of support for my former business partner, Patrick White. Patrick and I co-founded a start-up company based on the plan he developed; we raised $12 million in capital and created over 30 jobs in the process. Working together to build the company from scratch, I got to know Patrick quite well.

Patrick has the ability to both have a big vision, seeing what is important in the big picture, and at the same time see the deeper details of what it will take to achieve that vision. Most importantly, Patrick understands how to get things done.

In my book, "The Strategy Game: 41 Essays on Playing to Win for Competitive Advantage," I detail many of the qualities needed for leaders to thrive. Currently as a nonprofit consultant in the Boston area, building on my start-up experience, I work with leaders tasked with putting together a plan to further their organizational mission. As the CFO of a Berkshire nonprofit that has recently raised millions to secure a permanent home, Patrick has done just that.

I am confident that the people in the Berkshire region will be very sell served by Patrick White.

Barry Horwitz, Newton, Mass.

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Berkshire Eagle,June 24, 2024

The Berkshire Edge, June 24, 2024

Patrick White possesses the perfect combination of qualifications to make an excellent state representative

To the editor:

I would like to express my enthusiastic support for Patrick White of Stockbridge in his running for state representative in the 3rd Berkshire District. Patrick is a person of vision whom I believe possesses the qualifications needed for the job of representative. My personal experience with him has been principally through the leadership role he took in protecting the forests of the historically and ecologically important town property of Ice Glen. In my role as cofounder and president of Friends of Mohawk Trail State Forest, I specialize in studying and protecting forests that contain the features found in the Ice Glen woodlands.

Patrick sought to quickly learn all he could about the significance of the old-growth status of that woodland and recognized it as a treasure along historical, ecological, aesthetic, and inspirational lines. He recognized and chose people with specialized knowledge about the Glen and some critical problems its trees faced. Many of the eastern hemlocks of Ice Glen—often exceeding 300 years in age—were suffering from an infestation of a tiny insect from eastern Asia known as the hemlock woolly adelgid. A second alien pest, the emerald ash borer, was attacking the Glen's white ash trees. Both species reach significant size and age within that property. In impressiveness, these two species equal or surpass all others on similar sized properties in Massachusetts.

Of critical importance, Patrick helped to secure economical treatment for the hemlocks and ash trees, saving them from certain death and, in so doing, ensuring the Glen's continued important role as a true botanical treasure not only to Stockbridge but to all of Massachusetts.

From my interactions with Patrick, I believe he possesses the right combination of vision, managerial skills, and political savvy to make an excellent state representative.

Robert T. (Bob) Leverett, Florence
President, Friends of Mohawk Trail State Forest
Chair, Mass DCR Forest Reserve Science Advisory Committee
Cofounder, Native Tree Society

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The Berkshire Edge, July 29, 2024

We need to empower the middle class with techniques like Patrick White's

To the editor:

I write regarding "An open letter to Vice President Harris and Massachusetts Governor Healey" by Patrick White and the subsequent criticism proffered in a comment by Mr. Ken Werner.

Mr. White proposes a repeal of the estate-recovery provisions of Medicaid in which your home is taken by the Commonwealth if you are old, cannot pay your medical expenses, and must rely on Medicaid.

Mr. Werner objects, stating, "Someone has to pay for that cost. If it's not the person who received it, it will be all of us taxpayers. To me, it's ridiculous and unfair to expect me to pay for someone else's inheritance."

Mr. Werner's criticism, on one level, makes sense. Why should anyone receive medical care and not pay for it if they have resources to do it?

Closer inspection reveals that Mr. Werner seems to be thinking about the very rich, while Patrick White is trying to correct an inequity imposed on the middle class. Medicaid is funded by state and federal taxes. Middle-class people work hard their whole lives, all the while paying taxes that fund Medicaid they don't use. When they retire, they live on fixed incomes. When illness and old age combine to exceed that fixed income, or force early retriement, many find themselves in a desperate situation. By taking away the hard-earned, after-tax savings they invested in their homes, the Commonwealth only ensures that their children will have a harder life and will be one step closer to needing Medicaid themselves. This is penny wise and pound foolish.

According to former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, 90 percent of the nation's wealth has been accumulated by less than 10 percent of the population. What is left to the rest of us is tantamount to crumbs from the table. The very rich have an unfair advantage that increases with each generation because our tax and social welfare systems favor the very rich. The middle class already pays more than its share for social welfare systems. All that really needs to be done is to ensure that such a plan benefits the middle class and that the very rich are excluded from the repeal.

We need to empower the middle class with techniques like Patrick White's, get control of the unfair leverage of the ultra-rich, and stop fighting among ourselves for the crumbs that fall from the table.

Patrick White is trying to do just that.

Charles Kenny, Stockbridge

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The Berkshire Edge, July 19, 2024

We believe Patrick White has the qualifications to get the job done as state representative for the 3rd Berkshire District

To the editor:

We are excited to endorse Patrick White for as state representative for the 3rd Berkshire District and encourage all Democrats and Independents to vote for him on September 3.

He is the candidate who has been working on creative but solid solutions to address a list of many critical issues—from alleviating the residential tax burden and creating new local job opportunities to mitigating local environmental risks and leveraging state funds to fix our deteriorating road and bridge infrastructure.

Patrick's immediate priorities, when elected, will include:

Adding a safety valve to property tax assessments
Expanding local economic development
Expanding low interest borrowing
Increasing visitor contributions
Introducing a homestead exemption
Pursuing technology and efficiency grants
Pursuing green energy incentives
Expanding PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) for state-owned properties

Patrick is well prepared for what is ahead of him since he has the strongest qualifications and track record among all candidates. He has a degree in economics and understands how to leverage various economic and tax incentives to support our residents and local businesses. He is a successful entrepreneur well known and respected in the Boston business community where he launched three start-ups. He is a long-term advocate and supporter of environmental issues and has been named one of only three individuals from Berkshire County to the Massachusetts Climate Advisory Board.

The job of state representative for the 3rd Berkshire District comes with the responsibility to represent the best interests of 40,000 central and southern Berkshire citizens and, more importantly, to fill the shoes of Smitty Pignatelli on day one. We need a representative with the experience, knowledge, and wherewithal to take on this responsibility. Patrick White has the skills, experience, and passion to get the job done.

Ed Abrahams, Great Barrington
Milena Cerna, Great Barrington
Ruby Chang, Great Barrington
Tom Ferris, Great Barrington
Terry Flynn, Great Barrington
Gwen Glasser, Great Barrington
Sharon Gregory, Great Barrington
Bobbie Hallig, Mount Washington
Holly Hamer, Great Barrington
Beverly Hosokawa, Great Barrington
Michele Marantz, Dalton
Jaye Moscariello, Sandisfield
Mandy Pieczarka, Great Barrington
Stephen Saragin, Egremont
Scott Sawyer, West Stockbridge
Redbeard Simmons, Great Barrington
Bill Taylor, Sandisfield
Jan Wojcik, Great Barrington

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The Berkshire Edge, May 29, 2024

I hope you will join me in voting for Patrick White to represent the 3rd Berkshire District

To the editor:

I have worked closely with Patrick White for several years now. He is ethical. He is smart. He is thoughtful. He is not partisan. He is hard working. He is dedicated. He is local.

I am voting for Patrick White to be our next state representative for the 3rd Berkshire District. I hope you will consider voting for him, too.

Stephen Sagarin, Director of Berkshire Waldorf High School, North Egremont

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The Berkshire Edge, August 10, 2024

Patrick White is a man of action

To the editor:

I am supporting and will be voting for Patrick White for state representative for the 3rd Berkshire District. I had the opportunity to serve on the Regional School District Planning Board for several years with Patrick. Patrick is a dedicated, devoted, and show-up-for-the-work man. He is not afraid to discuss the difficult issues and to dig deep for solutions. Patrick is a passionate, creative thinker and a problem solver with a unique ability to think outside the box. As a selectman from a different town, I have benefited from his knowledge and experience. Patrick understands town budgets and what we need from the state to be able to provide the best for the citizens.

Patrick is a man of action. If you have a problem, Patrick is going to find you a solution. He is smart and thoughtful. He was raised in our community and understands the unique issues of living and serving in our rural communities. He knows and understands the unique area he will serve. I know Partick personally, and I know when he is our state representative, when I need him, he will take my call and help me find the solutions for my town. The 3rd Berkshire District deserves a person willing to work and work hard for its citizens.

Nadine Hawver, Sheffield

NOTE: Nadine Hawver is chair of the Sheffield Select Board; however, she writes the above as a private citizen.

Re-Election Letters—2023

Here are the letters published in support of my re-election to the Stockbridge Select Board

Berkshire Eagle, April 12, 2023

To the editor: Many years ago, I was dropped off in the middle of Stockbridge from New York City via the Greyhound bus line, ironically in May to begin what I thought would be a short stint of housesitting and maybe a few shifts at the well-established Red Lion Inn.

Well, I did work at the Red Lion Inn, then later decided to stick around to grow some kids. I became part of the Berkshire community. In my days working in Stockbridge, I would walk by Once Upon a Table, the quaint bistro in town. It always seemed not busy or closed. Yet the aromas were always enticing. It was a cozy spot. I never thought anything more about it until a friend I made during my time at Red Lion Inn informed me that the owner Alan O'Brient was looking for help.

I stopped in and lo and behold eight years later it would be my part-time waitressing gig. In the ninth year, as the pandemic rescinded, new chapters began for the waitress transitioning to owner of Once Upon a Table.

Alan, the former owner, took it upon himself to introduce me to Patrick White via text. He said Patrick is a good resource. Patrick called — yes called me, I still have the voicemail — welcoming me and extended his hand to me as a new business owner in Stockbridge. Those were my "deer in headlights days," yet I was able to ask for key guidance about bylaws and town meetings. I was able to ask about what processes were necessary and who I should direct key questions to for inspections and licenses, as it was a transfer of entities. Some things remained in place; others needed to be reassessed.

Knowing your Select Board members is key. Having someone who understands and cares for Stockbridge matters. Patrick, to me, is an asset many small towns wish they had. Let us keep local consistent, caring, reliable, knowledgeable people like Patrick White, who has a vision to sustain our quaint town but also has the vision to keep us moving in the right direction in the future. The work has just begun. Let him continue as our Select Board member.

Averniele Maloney, Stockbridge

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Stockbridge Updates, April 15, 2023

To the Editor:

A Man for All Seasons

I am writing in support of Mr. Patrick White to be re-elected to the Stockbridge Select Board.

Mr White is a neighbour. Over the years I have witnessed first hand Patrick's practical approach to solving problems. He is willing to listen, to consider all points of view, and to find creative solutions to intractable problems.

We first met at the Laurel Hill Association--an organization "dedicated to further the quality of life and the environment of Stockbridge." I think this phrase could serve as Patrick's mantra.

Patrick is always ready to help in uneasy times and I have been repeatedly impressed by his love and dedication to Stockbridge affairs, especially in his tireless pro-active attempts to mend the difference in conflicting opinions.

Mediation, imagination and selflessness are attributes that are hard to find and qualities that the Town needs in this day and age. Based on his past achievements, I will trust Mr White to be again at the helm of the ship.

Lionel Delevingne

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Stockbridge Updates, April 15, 2023

Hi Carole,

Having been a selectman in Stockbridge for 24 years (1974 - 1998 ), I know what the job requires :

A willingness to work hard, time to listen and communicate with constituents, the ability to evaluate best options and most importantly, a vision for the town based upon its historic values. Patrick White possesses and demonstrates all of them and has for the past 3 years.

A check of the number of meetings that Patrick attends weekly shows the time that he spends for the Town. He is well known for his quick responses to questions or complaints. He listens. Patrick is smart, verbal, and imaginative — all of which allows him to be a quick study of problems (housing, rentals, the Bowl... ) and their possible solutions. Not everyone agrees with him all of the time and they shouldn't, but he does make decisions.

Finally, Stockbridge is known and highly valued for its not physically changing. Open space, no stop light, resistance to roundabouts, no turnpike entrance/exit... are just a few examples of maintaining a commitment to the past. Patrick knows this ... I strongly urge Stockbridge voters to return him to the selectboard ... The town needs him.

JA Beacco, Jr.

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The Berkshire Edge, April 19, 2023
Stockbridge Updates, May 1, 2023

My name is Robert T. Leverett. Below are some of my credits.

- Cofounder of the Native Tree Society - County coordinator for the Old-Growth Forest Network - Senior advisor to American Forests on the National Champion Tree Program - Coauthor of the Sierra Guide to Ancient Forests of the Northeast - Chair of Massachusetts DCR's Forest Reserves Science Advisory Committee - Cofounder and President, Friends of Mohawk Trail State Forest

I'd like to call to your attention to the leadership role of Patrick White, Chair of the Stockbridge Select Board, in championing the old growth in Ice Glen and securing recognition and getting treatment for the ancient hemlocks and mature white ash trees there. As you all may know, the Glen is a priceless ecological relict of forests past with historical ties to the Mohican Nation and even literary figures like Herman Melville.

Over the years, we've carefully mapped out the areas of old growth and mature second growth, and I will attest that both are exceptional natural resources of which we can be proud. However, our remaining isolated forested gems like Ice Glen don't protect themselves. They are always vulnerable to direct and indirect negative influences, often of human origin. Alien invasives like the hemlock wooley adelgid, elongate hemlock scale, and the emerald ash borer and native pests like hemlock looper represented terminal threats to the Glen's trees that have lived between 200 and 400 years. Treating them was not an option, but we needed a leader, and Patrick White rose to the occasion.

Over the course of 30 years, I've taken many groups and individuals through the Glen on interpretive walks. Also while gathering data (e.g. measuring a tree), people have stopped and inquired to what I was seeing or doing. When I explained to them what a special forest Ice Glen possessed, I could see their faces light up and often one or more would state that they always knew the place was truly special. But then came the insect pests and the days were numbered for those ancient trees. Time to save them was limited. A leader was needed, and Patrick White proved to be that person. All of us who value these original forest remnants are grateful to Patrick and want to call everyone's attention to his leadership in saving the ancient trees of the Glen.

Bob Leverett

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Berkshire Eagle, April 19, 2023

To the editor: As a Stockbridge second-home owner, I can't vote in the upcoming town election, but if I could I'd vote enthusiastically for Patrick White for Select Board.

I first met Patrick several years ago when our dogs ran into one another on a quiet town road. Later, I had a chance to work with him on the board of the Laurel Hill Association. He's a pleasure to work with — smart, hard-working and deeply concerned about the environment in Stockbridge.

I've been particularly impressed with Patrick's leadership since he was elected to the Select Board. It's easy to avoid criticism by not doing anything, but that's not Patrick's way. As Teddy Roosevelt told us, "credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena ... who strives valiantly ... so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

Patrick is in the arena because he cares about Stockbridge, is concerned about changes that have made it harder for less affluent residents to stay here, and has the courage to step forward. His proposals for a residential tax exemption and an accessory dwelling unit bylaw have both generated controversy, but they've also put those issues on the town agenda. If we haven't found the right answer yet, I know Patrick will keep looking.

Patrick grew up in Stockbridge, went away to college and worked for a time in Boston before coming home to the town he loves. Stockbridge is fortunate to have a native son who brings so much love for the town and willingness to invest energy and effort into making it better,

Lee Bolman, Brookline

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Berkshire Eagle, April 20, 2023
The Berkshire Edge, April 27, 2023
Stockbridge Updates, May 1, 2023

To the editor: I strongly endorse Patrick White, who is running for reelection to the Stockbridge Select Board.

As the former race director of the Josh Billings triathlon, I found Patrick incredibly helpful and supportive of the race. While dealing with new logistics for the Josh over the past few years, I often turned to Patrick for advice on Stockbridge rules and regulations and was grateful for his advice in aligning me with the best contacts on the town boards and town departments.

I knew I could count on Patrick to help the Josh Billings navigate and resolve complex town issues. Patrick's desire to help and his skills as an organizer make him very qualified to continue on the Stockbridge Select Board.

I support Patrick White for reelection, and I hope you will give him your vote May 16.

Patty Spector, Lenox

The writer is the former race director for the Josh Billings RunAground.

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Berkshire Eagle, April 21, 2023
The Berkshire Edge, April 21, 2023
Stockbridge Updates, May 1, 2023

To the editor: I've known Patrick White for more than five years — as a fellow Laurel Hill board trustee, treasurer of the Waldorf School where Patrick works part-time, and a fellow volunteer to manage the town's municipal vulnerability program (climate change impacts in Stockbridge).

Patrick is caring, competent and hard-working. He values and cherishes the Stockbridge community — people, businesses, special cultural institutions, history and environment.

Patrick attends numerous neighborhood meetings to listen and discuss residents' (mostly part-time) concerns. He is a strong proponent for ways to ensure that seniors can remain in their homes. He initiated the effort to save the old growth hemlocks in Ice Glen. He volunteered to operate the weed harvester on Stockbridge Bowl.

Patrick works conscientiously to bring people together to face problems and work on important issues. During his tenure as selectman, he successfully proposed an increase in the occupancy tax to decrease property taxes. This year, his budget review and recommendations to the Finance Committee will result in lower tax assessments. Even when things don't go his way, Patrick is a gentleman.

I appreciate that Patrick values and practices transparency in government. He attends so many board and committee meetings to ensure he is aware of the issues and accomplishments of dedicated community volunteers. He acts ethically and respects the Open Meeting Law. He championed efforts to ensure that public meetings are available both in person and on Zoom so that all full- and part-time residents can participate. He is available every day, all day to respond to issues large and small. I have never seen Patrick more happy than when he has helped someone with a problem.

Be it a "Woof-a-thon" on Stockbridge Bowl, a picnic for the town sponsored by Laurel Hill Association and Stockbridge Bowl Association, or a Stockbridge tradition like the Memorial Day and Veterans Day parades, Patrick loves bringing people together.

May 16 is Election Day in Stockbridge. Please vote.

Laura Dubester, Stockbridge

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Berkshire Eagle, April 25, 2023
The Berkshire Edge, April 27, 2023
Stockbridge Updates, May 1, 2023

To the editor: I am writing to endorse Patrick White for the Stockbridge Select Board.

While I am no longer a resident, I lived in Stockbridge for 18 years and also served on the Zoning Board of Appeals. I am no stranger to the workings of the town and view the community with great fondness and esteem. My good friends there can attest to this.

The good folks of Stockbridge are very fortunate to have Patrick working for them. I can testify to his commitment to both preserving those qualities that make Stockbridge unique, as well as pursuing innovative solutions to contemporary challenges. His is an expansive view of the community, reaching out to locals, second-home owners, business owners, nonprofits and all the varied interests that make up Stockbridge today. He does his homework and due diligence. He walks into meetings prepared in all ways: to propose ideas, to listen, to find compromise, to find solutions. When facing adversity, his response is thoughtful, measured and even conciliatory when called for.

I am now a member of the Select Board in neighboring Lee. I have come to rely upon my friend, Patrick, for his counsel, experience, wisdom and innovative thinking when pondering issues where we share common cause. He is a reliable resource who has my deepest respect.

I encourage my Stockbridge neighbors and friends to support Patrick White in his quest to continue serving you. He has earned his place at that table.

Bob Jones, Lee

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Berkshire Eagle, April 27, 2023
Stockbridge Updates, May 1, 2023

To the editor: My experience working in local government for more than 30 years makes me realize that few if any proposals that come before committees are acceptable to everyone.

Nonetheless, we elect our representatives because we expect them to make an effort. We expect them to put forth ideas to improve our communities, invite and field the criticisms and pushback, and have the courage and perseverance to return with the original idea improved through the dialogue.

During these three most difficult pandemic years, Stockbridge Select Board Chairman Patrick White has shown himself to be one of those elected officials whom you can count on to do just that. He is indefatigable; he is smart; and he will listen to you. Vote for Patrick White.

Charles Kenny, Stockbridge

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The Berkshire Edge, April 24, 2023
Berkshire Eagle, April 27, 2023
Stockbridge Updates, May 1, 2023

To the editor: I am pleased to endorse Patrick White for a second term on the Stockbridge Select Board.

He's proven himself to be an effective advocate for Stockbridge and its residents. It does not matter whether you are a year-rounder or a second-home owner, own a grand house or rent a modest apartment, Patrick treats you with respect and listens to your suggestions for how to improve the town. Whether he agrees with you or not, he seeks everyone's opinion — and values it.

Patrick White is probably the most enthusiastic and energetic guy I know, devoted to sustaining and improving our town. He combines broad knowledge of local bylaws with innovative thinking to explore new opportunities for Stockbridge. He's open-minded, courageous and genuinely cares about other people without prejudice.

Patrick has worked selflessly for our town, proven his commitment to protect our environment and preserve open spaces, and deserves to be reelected to the Select Board on May 16.

Barney Edmonds, Stockbridge

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Berkshire Eagle, April 28, 2023
Stockbridge Updates, May 1, 2023

To the editor: Please consider voting Patrick White for reelection to the Stockbridge Select Board.

Patrick is a forward thinker and a spirited planner who is engaged with all the town's residents as well as all the town's boards and employees. He is in tune with the town's needs on a daily basis.

As a Select Board member, he is present, approachable, reactive, responsive and accountable in his daily duties on the Stockbridge Select Board.

I am confident that Stockbridge is in good hands and will continue move forward positively into the future with Patrick reelected for another three-year term.

Gary Pitney, Stockbridge

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Stockbridge Updates, May 1

To the Editor:

As a Berkshire native, I have known Patrick White (incumbent Select Board Member currently running for re-election) for nearly 50 years. Yesterday, Patrick posted a heartfelt video on Facebook and YouTube outlining why he is running again for the same position. I listened to the whole clip, and I'm compelled to share that I'm proud of who Patrick has become, what he stands for, what he's accomplished, but most importantly, I'm proud of his outlook and dreams for Stockbridge. Although I do not live in Stockbridge, I am a second homeowner in the Berkshires, I firmly believe he is exactly what Stockbridge needs right now in leadership. Patrick is deeply committed, hardworking and as honest as they come. Keep up the great work Pat!

Tori Gabriel

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Stockbridge Updates, May 1

To the Editor:

I'll be voting for Patrick White for Select Board. He has shown that he represents the voters of Stockbridge and has their best interests when decisions are required. When a subject comes before the board that requires him to recuse himself, he does so, unlike his opponent who didn't and only recused herself after the town counsel suggested it.

Michael Roisman

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Berkshire Eagle, May 10, 2023

To the editor: Patrick White has brought fresh and exciting energy to the town of Stockbridge.

I have been deeply impressed by his passion for creating and sustaining the infrastructure of a thriving full-time community while fully engaging in the discussion of the differing needs and perspectives of full-time and part-time residents. It's only out of this discussion that strong solutions will emerge for the town, and Patrick has engaged in the process with both clear goals for the community and the good spirit and creative thinking required to achieve viable compromise.

Patrick is approachable, responsive and creative and devotes tremendous, constructive energy to the livelihood of our town. I will vote for him enthusiastically on May 16.

Nina Ryan, Stockbridge

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Berkshire Eagle, May 11, 2023

To the editor: The Stockbridge Democratic caucus has enthusiastically endorsed Patrick White for Select Board, Dr. John Loiodice for Sewer and Water commissioner and Dr. Elias Lefferman for Board of Health.

We ask you to vote for these three outstanding candidates. Vote to reelect Patrick White to the Stockbridge Select Board. Three more years will enable Patrick to finish projects and pursue new ones. He has worked hard and brought new energy, involvement and ideas to the town. He has done a good job for us, but there is still more to do.

Patrick was raised in Stockbridge and is a graduate of the Plain School and Monument High.

He developed a deep love for the community, the natural beauty of the area, its history and its residents. He has a strong desire to give back to the town. Even before his election to the Select Board, Patrick served on Laurel Hill Association and town committees including the Conservation Commission and the Stock-bridge Bowl Stewardship Commission. He volunteered at the Talbot Center and the Botanical Gardens and even drove the harvester on Stockbridge Bowl. He continues to attend and participate in almost every committee meeting and town event. Townspeople know that they can reach out to Patrick and he will listen to their concerns.

Patrick supports citizen participation in and access to all town meetings. He was the only member of the previous Select Board to support last year's citizen petition to require hybrid meetings and he secured the needed equipment for both town meeting rooms. He has worked closely with CTSB to ensure that all town meetings have remote access and can also be watched later.

As chairman, Patrick has proposed a number of actions to benefit town residents, the environment and Stockbridge life. He does not shy away from public comments but also knows when to table an issue.

Visit his website at patrickwhiteberkshires.com to learn more about why he's running, his accomplishments and future goals. Be sure to explore his photo gallery.

Your vote matters. Please vote for the candidates who appear on the ballot as a Democratic Caucus Nominee. Democracy is not a spectator sport.

Anita Schwerner, Stockbridge