NORTH ADAMS — City Councilor Andrew Fitch has announced that he is running for the 1st Berkshire District seat in the state House of Representatives.

Fitch, 41, is a registered Democrat who is currently in his second City Council term and was recently appointed vice president. In the November 2025 municipal election, he received over 2,000 votes, the top vote-getter out of all incumbent and new candidates.

Dozens of officials from North Adams, Williamstown, Fitch's family and friends packed into Steeple City Social, his Eagle Street restaurant, on Tuesday to hear him talk about his platform of economic development, affordability for housing for seniors and families and cross-regional collaboration.

"I have the energy to do this well, to do this right and be really present in our whole region," Fitch said. "That is my commitment to you, to being, throughout this campaign and far into the future, very present, a good listener, someone who will meet with everybody ... and take countless meetings. Whatever it takes to advocate for stronger relations with Beacon Hill and stronger funding and support for our region."

Fitch is running in the 2026 state legislative election for the seat currently held by Rep. John Barrett III, who assumed office in 2017. Before that, Barrett, 78, served as the mayor of North Adams for 26 years.

In a statement to the Eagle, Barrett, who also is a Democrat, said he traditionally waits until nomination papers are available before making any announcement about reelection. Papers for the 2026 elections will be available next week.

The Democratic primary election is Sept. 1.

"Over the next few days, I will be in Boston providing testimony on key bills, working on new legislation, and continuing to address constituent needs, while also focusing on the pressing issues facing our communities and the commonwealth," Barrett said. "This work remains my top priority. I remain deeply committed to the 1st Berkshire District and confident in the direction of the work I am doing on behalf of the people I represent."

The 1st Berkshire District encompasses 13 municipalities in the northwestern-most part of the state, including Central Berkshire towns Hinsdale and Peru to Northern Berkshire municipalities North Adams, Williamstown, Hancock, Lanesborough, New Ashford, Clarksburg, Cheshire, Adams, Florida, Savoy and Windsor.

Dozens of people filled North Adams' Steeple City Social on Tuesday for owner and City Councilor Andrew Fitch's state representative campaign announcement. Fitch, who is currently City Council vice president, outlined campaign priorities of economic development, affordability and cross-regional collaboration.

Fitch said he wanted to focus on economic development projects that will set the region up for the future. "Things like finishing the bike path, connecting the Ashuwillticook [Rail Trail] from Pittsfield all the way to Williamstown, getting the [West-East rail] finished, getting more educational funding that is fair for our school systems."

Last year, Fitch proposed an affordable housing trust initiative to the council, which passed in October. When talking about affordability, he said was focused on funding that trust and programs like it in the region.

"The state is already very much committed to this, and I just want to show real leadership in our community."

He had other ideas for making the region more affordable to live in, including free child care, citing the pilot program currently being tested in New York.

As for cross-regional collaboration, Fitch said he wants to build the "best relationships possible on Beacon Hill, all across the state ... and within the Berkshires." He said stronger relationships between municipalities in the Berkshires will allow the region to better advocate for common interests at the state level.

When asked about how to retain more young professionals in the region, who have increasingly been leaving for work after college, he said it's hard to get people to move here for reasons including housing stock and lack of transportation.

"Having affordability is becoming less and less a reality, so it's harder for people to move here or for people graduating from college or high school here to stay here," Fitch said. "We're missing out on those populations because of housing but also because of lack of transportation. If we did have a passenger rail that connected North Adams and Pittsfield very quickly to the Boston metro, I think we would see much more growth in this region.

Fitch also was asked what policies from the Healey-Driscoll administration that he supported and opposed. He was "slightly frustrated" that the administration doesn't seem keen on payment in lieu of taxes programs for state-owned land. He said this is a program that could "really help" places like Savoy and Florida, which houses Savoy Mountain State Forest.

"That is a huge swath of land that Savoy cannot develop [because it is state-owned land] and is not being rewarded for," he said. "It is being held by the state and not paid for by the state. I'm a little curious about pushing the Healey administration to look at that more ... to better support these communities."

What he liked about the administration? The energy.

"I've seen conferences where Healey and Driscoll come out on stage and they are a dynamic duo. They've got that energy, that care, they have focus on the future. They care and talk about economic development, doubling down on sustainable energy sources, climate technology, medical technology, things that the state needs to continue to grow."

A native of Marshfield, Fitch moved to North Adams in 2021 after working in community engagement and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion roles for technology companies. He became involved in local politics and purchased two commercial buildings downtown — one of which now houses his bakery and wine bar, Steeple City Social. He is also a co-founder of North Adams Pride, which puts on the annual Northern Lights Ball.

Fitch said he has reached out to every municipality in the district, including all electives and residents that he could reach, and that he was excited to spend time in every community.

"I truly will be everywhere," he said. "I have a breakfast tomorrow at [Ozzie's Steak and Eggs] in Hinsdale and that is an intentional choice to get immediately to the southern part of this district."