Gobi faces Amorello in Worcester, Hampshire race for Senate

State Sen. Anne M. Gobi, D-Spencer, is facing opposition in the Nov. 8 election from the youngest person to challenge her for the seat.

James Amorello, 24, a Holden Republican, said he’s running against the longtime incumbent because his policies for economic development “better suit the district.”

“I want to help small businesses. We should be working from the bottom up, supporting mom and pop shops,” Amorello said, adding that he wants to keep taxes low for small businesses.

Gobi, 59, said she’s done plenty of work helping local businesses and has seen many small operations in the district grow, employ more area residents and bring opportunities to the community during her 21 years in office.

“I’ve been working to close loopholes that impact small businesses and working with workforce training to help schools partner with business as they’ve done in Ware and are implementing at David Prouty in Spencer. That helps give students soft skills that they can use in the workforce,” she said.

Gobi was first elected in a special election in 2001, to represent the Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire, and Middlesex District. The district now comprises Barre, Brookfield, East Brookfield, Gardner, Hardwick, Holden, Hubbardston, Leicester, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Oakham, Paxton, Phillipston, Princeton, Rutland, Spencer, Sterling, Templeton, Ware, West Brookfield, Westminster and a section of Worcester.

In her years as senator, she said she’s found the most satisfaction in being able to help people. In the past few years, she’s been working to help homeowners whose houses have crumbling foundations due to pyrrhotite, a naturally occurring mineral.

“That’s been a top issue for me,” Gobi said.

Watching homeowners saddled with the cost of lifting their homes and replacing the foundation has been difficult, and she’s worked to help find funding to assist them.

Amorello said he’s been traveling the geographically large, recently reconfigured district and has visited about 6,000 homes in an effort to spread his message and hear from potential constituents.

“I’m trying to make a composite of the best ideas,” he said.

In commenting on some recent changes in Massachusetts, Amorello said he’s in favor of the state’s new gaming law and, had a thoroughbred race track been sited in Hardwick, one of the district’s towns, he’d have supported that.

“I like horse racing,” he said, adding that he’s attended races and would’ve visited the track in Hardwick.

Amorello is also a fan of marijuana, which a few years ago was legalized in the state.

“I think it’s a good thing,” he said. “I’ve used it. It helps a lot in terms of stabilizing your brain.”

Gobi said that while marijuana is legal, there is likely going to be more legislating needed as the industry grows.

“It seems like we’ve saturated the market … the funds that are coming in as a result are good but there is a sunset on that,” she said.

Gobi is also working with other legislators and law enforcement to find a test that would determine if drivers are under the influence of the drug, which remains illegal under federal law.

She’s also helping the family of Molly Bish, a Warren lifeguard who was slain in 2000. Bish’s family wants the Legislature to pass a bill allowing for the use of familial DNA that they believe could help solve Molly’s, and other, homicide cases.

Among her other accomplishments, Gobi said she’s pleased that a new Soldiers Home will be built in Holyoke. The site came under heavy scrutiny after more than 70 veterans died from COVID-19 when their units were combined as the newly discovered virus made its way through the facility in 2020.

Gobi called the events the worst thing she’s seen since taking office.

“It really hit home,” she said. “It was personal. We knew (former Hardwick Selectman) Charlie Lowell (who lived at the Soldiers Home and died from COVID-19).

Following a report from the oversight committee that studied the Soldiers Home tragedy, of which Gobi was a part, funds were allocated to build a new facility, and sites in Central Mass. are being eyed for another veterans’ care center, she said.

Amorello said he wouldn’t speak about the recent Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade because the matter is “codified in Massachusetts,” although a mailer sent from his campaign indicates he believes life begins at conception and would “support legislation to limit the number of abortions in Massachusetts.”

Gobi said she believes that abortion should be legal and that decisions about whether that is the right route for a woman should be made by her and her doctor. She also believes it is important to protect doctors who perform the procedures.

Amorello attended St. John’s University, Anna Maria College and Worcester State University before leaving school after becoming an investor. He lives with his father, is single and has no children.

Gobi is a lifelong resident of Spencer and has worked as a teacher and an attorney. She is married and has no children.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Anne Gobi faces challenger James Amorello in bid for Senate seat