PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A piece of advice Christopher Connell received when he was a teenager has stuck with him.

 

If you want to make changes, you can either vote for someone who will or do it yourself.

 

Four years ago he took that advice to heart and ran and won a seat on the City Council.

 

Yet, the position still hasn't given him enough authority to make the types of changes he'd like to see. 

 

"I feel like at times as a councilor, I am kind of in a box. I keep hitting the top of the box and I can't do any more for the city. I can submit petitions. I can form study groups. But the bottom line is it really comes down to funding. We need to get much of this funding at the state level and have someone advocating for that funding," Connell said.

 

"That hasn't been done."

 

Connell is challenging incumbent Tricia Farley-Bouvier for state representative for the 3rd Berkshire District. Connell announced his candidacy on the steps of City Hall on Thursday, focusing his campaign on infrastructure and education. 

 

"The city needs more funding for infrastructure repairs and for our educational needs such as alternative schooling and adjustment councilors," Connell said. "We also need to explore the option of regionalization with neighboring communities due to shrinking populations and increasing costs."

 

He said the city needs more handicapped accessibility and a solution to the opioid addiction scourge gripping the county, and veterans need "proper services." But on the local level, not much of that can be done without additional funding. 

 

"If you look at our Chapter 90 budget right now, it is geared for sidewalk and street repair. But 58 percent of the budget you get from the state is based on the miles you have in the city. That percent should go up," Connell gave as an example of specific changes he has in mind. "The other two factors, which constitutes 42 percent, is the population and the employment. But what do those two things have to do with roads and sidewalks?"

 

After serving two terms on the City Council, with the most recent stint being vice president, Connell says he understands the needs of the community and will be a voice for Pittsfield in Boston. 

 

"I want to provide a direct link from local government to state government. I want a local voice in the statehouse," Connell said.

 

Connell has just been elected for this third term and he plans to continue serving on the council even after elected. 

 

"It is my intention to do both," Connell said. "Logistically, I feel I can because council and subcommittee meetings are at night."

 

Beyond his municipal experience, Connell boasts experience in business, particularly in managing large budgets.

 

After college, he worked some 20 years for Woolworth in management before taking a job as an area manager for Cumberland Farms and was placed in charge of nine stores. Shortly after, he was promoted to regional manager in charge of 45 stores.

 

"As a regional manager we had a budget of over $100 million," Connell said. "I think I have enough knowledge to do the job as state rep. I'm used to dealing with big numbers and big budgets."

 

Now a landlord with a number of properties in the city, he has served on a number of subcommittees and currently sits on the board of the Rental Housing Association of Berkshire County. He previously was a member of the board of directors of the Pittsfield Family YMCA.

 

In the last year, he took it upon himself to start a study group focused on trying to find a public/private partnership to more efficiently run the city's wastewater and water-treatment operations. 

 

Though he has entered the race, he hasn't declared a party status and is currently unenrolled.

 

"I've always been an independent voice for the city of Pittsfield and I will move forward as an independent voice," Connell said.

 

Connell is the first challenger for the Berkshire delegation this election, and the first in two terms; all four representatives and state Sen. Benjamin B. Downing cruised to victory unopposed in 2014 and 2016. Only state Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, D-Lenox, faced a challenger in 2012. 

 

Farley-Bouvier won a special election in 2011 to fill the seat vacated by Christopher Speranzo, who was appointed to a Berkshire Superior Court position. Farley-Bouvier first defeated Peter White and Ryan Scago in the Democratic primary and then Green-Rainbow Party Mark Miller, Republican Mark Jester, and independent Pam Malumphy in the general election. She ran unopposed in the following two elections.