Taunton Senate race: Barry Sanders touts decades spent helping people 'overcome obstacles'

Editor's note: With Taunton State Sen. Marc Pacheco retiring, the Third Bristol and Plymouth state senate seat is up for grabs with no incumbent running for the first time in more than three decades. We will be running profiles of the four candidates vying for the seat over the next couple of weeks, starting with the two Democrats because they will be facing off in the state primary on Tuesday, Sept. 3. There is no GOP primary for this race, because there is only one Republican candidate, as well as one independent. Today we feature Democrat Barry Sanders.

TAUNTON — As a social worker for 35 years, Barry Sanders has spent practically his whole adult life helping people in need.

Whether working for state entities, like the Department of Children & Families, or the Department of Mental Health, or even doing independent and volunteer work, Sanders believes, over the years, his career has given him a front row seat to the human condition.

“I’ve developed a breadth and understanding on how people manage daily. How they pick themselves up. What knocks them down. What prevents them from getting back up,” he said.

He said his career gives him "a perspective not common amongst other elected officials.”

It’s this experience which has enlightened his six years as a Taunton city councilor.

Now the opportunity has come to make an impact on a larger scale: State Senate. Sanders is one of two Democrats, and one of four candidates total, vying for the seat which long-time 32-year incumbent Marc Pacheco is not seeking this election season.

On why he’s running: “I have learned through my social work career, that I have probably helped thousands of people.  As city councilor, I can positively impact all in the city on a regular basis. With State Senate, now is the possibility to impact a whole district, and, by extension, everyone in the Commonwealth. I couldn’t ignore this opportunity.”

'Building consensus, working with diverse stakeholders'

Just like his campaign for State Senate, what got Sanders into local politics was the opportunity to make systemic change.

As a city councilor, Sanders said, he takes great pride in “building consensus, working with diverse stakeholders,” and being able to work with fellow councilors, department heads and the mayor on any issue, while maintaining good relationships, regardless of ideological or philosophical differences.

“Whether or not we agree, it doesn’t mean we can’t still have a good relationship,” he said, adding, “as long as we keep it on the issues and be respectful, then I don’t begrudge someone having a different opinion from mine.”

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Fought for public input at Council meetings

One of his proudest accomplishments has been his advocacy and continued defense for a public input period during City Council.

Public input wasn’t officially established for the City Council until July 2020, when the pandemic made everything remote.  Sanders said he pushed hard for it to be established since he started on the Council, but especially recommended it during the pandemic as a remote option because members of the public had fewer opportunities to communicate at council meetings.

“I’m happy people can come forward with any topic they think is important for Council to hear,” he said, adding he continues to defend it, even when it “sometimes causes discomfort” amongst other councilors or city hall officials.

More affordable housing

As a State senator, Sanders said he would work to create a “comprehensive approach" — such as more funding, tax credits, and minimum development requirements — for increasing affordable housing options across his district.

Sanders referenced his record of supporting affordable housing options in the city, including the Coyle School Residences, formerly the Taunton Catholic Middle School, and the two-story townhouses with affordable units at 68 Church Green.

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Not afraid to be lone voice in dissent

Never one to shy away from being alone on a stance, Sanders was the lone dissenting vote earlier this year in Council’s approval of a $2.5 million tax break for a massive rental unit complex, to be built next door to Taunton’s MBTA South Coast Rail Station, because the site wasn’t including any affordable housing units.

“I wasn’t going for that. If you’re investing taxpayer money into a housing project there has to be a return to the community in terms of affordable housing,” Sanders said.

Has seen toll of mental health crisis

Addressing mental health, both for adults and in the school systems, is a goal very near and dear to Sanders.

As a social worker, he said, “the mental health crisis is very real” and he saw it looming on the horizon years ago, before “COVID made things worse.”

Expanding workforce capacity and patient affordability for mental health treatment is a priority for Sanders, saying people shouldn’t have to wait months for availability. He said the same thing for children and schools, believing they need greater access to resources and agencies providing mental health programs.

On migrant crisis: 'Helping systems have limits'

Addressing the overflow of migrants in government-funded shelters is another priority.

“We need to move past the yelling, screaming, and bumper sticker responses to this crisis,” he said.

What that means, said Sanders, is if the Federal Government isn’t going to solve the border crisis or provide more funding to the state, then the reality is the state is at capacity and “helping systems have limits."

“As a social worker, I’ve had to be the one sometimes to say there’s no bed at the shelter, or there’s no food at the bank,” he said. “As much as it pains me to say, whether homeless and living in a car, or someone who fled a lawless country, there are limits to what we can do.”

He concludes, “There has to be plan for making good decisions about how to use our limited resources.”

Steward bankruptcy and Morton Hospital's future

Sanders said he's been "fighting for years" alongside the Massachusetts Nursing Association and the union representing workers at Morton Hospital against the stripping the resources and closing of services by the hospital's owner, Steward Health Care, which recently declared bankruptcy.

He protested and provided testimonial to the Department of Public Health against the closing of Morton's maternity unit and its pediatrics unit.

"Their closings were irresponsible," Sanders said.

What private equity firms did was criminal, said Sanders.

“They sold everything they could. They sucked money out of the community, at the expense of people seeking health care,” Sanders said.

One of Sanders' main priorities is to “empower Public Health with oversight and authority, so whoever buys the hospitals will be held accountable for putting people and patients over profits," he said.

Helping as many as possible

Working on the state level, Sanders would be determined at “working to help everyday people manage their lives" and "be more independent and successful."

“My message doesn’t change. What are the things your family needs to overcome obstacles? These are non-partisan issues,” Sanders said.

Between his time on the Council and his decades of service as a social worker, Sanders said he doesn’t care what political party you align with, he’s here to help everyone any way he can.

“I have good partnerships with people no matter the party. My concern is the opportunity to work together, make compromises and find a path forward,” he said.

Time and time again, during sessions of City Council, Sanders has repeated the same phrase regarding his elected position: “We work for you.”

“At the State House, I will be well aware of who I work for,” Sanders said.

Who else is running for this seat?

In addition to Sanders, three other candidates are vying for the seat: Raynham Selectman Joe Pacheco, a Democrat; Taunton City Councilor Kelly Dooner, a Republican; and former Raynham Selectman and B-R School Committee member Jim DuPont, an independent.

That means there will be a Democratic primary — where Pacheco and Sanders vie for a spot on the general election ballot in November — but no GOP primary, since there is only one Republican in the race.

When is the Democratic primary?

The Democratic primary is Tuesday, Sept. 3.

When is the general election?

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 5.

This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Who's Barry Sanders? Meet Taunton city councilor running for Senate