GREENFIELD — The former eastern Massachusetts state representative who is now vying for the Republican nomination for governor visited Franklin County on Tuesday, stopping by five businesses and the American Legion in Orange to ask potential voters what they want to see from their government.
Before heading to Orange for a meet-and-greet, Geoff Diehl stopped at Sandri Inc. at 400 Chapman St. in Greenfield to chat with President and CEO Michael Behn. Diehl is running against Wrentham businessman Chris Doughty in the Sept. 6 primary.
He was joined by fellow Republicans Jeffrey Raymond, who is running for the 2nd Franklin District seat held by Susannah Whipps, and Jeffrey Sossa-Paquette, who is trying to unseat Democrat Jim McGovern in the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as people involved with their campaigns.
“We’ve been out here several times,” Diehl said before leaving for Orange.
“In July of 2021, I kicked off my campaign in Hadley, specifically as a way to send a message that I do not plan on overlooking central or western Massachusetts, and of course we’ve made our way out here numerous times to make sure that the agricultural industry knows that I value them just as much as our fishing industry, just as much as I value the biotech that’s flourishing in Boston.”
The former state representative from Whitman, serving the 7th Plymouth District from 2011 to 2019, was an early supporter of former President Donald Trump. Returning the favor, Trump issued an endorsement of Diehl’s candidacy in October.
Diehl’s travels are part of his “Berkshires to Boston Tour,” a way of attempting to reach voters spanning from the remote corner of Berkshire County to the densely populated state capital.
Behn told his guests about the history of Sandri and spoke about the challenges the energy industry has experienced since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He and the campaigning politicians talked about the field’s changing nature and what they see as well-intentioned but misguided attempts to rely exclusively on renewable energy sources. An abrupt transition to solar and wind power would overload any grid, Behn argued. He added that Sandri plans to start switching to biofuels next year.
Diehl was also scheduled to visit the Whately Diner in Whately, Bar-Way Farm in Deerfield, the Garden Cinemas in Greenfield and Brad’s Place in Greenfield.
Reach Domenic Poli at dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.