Worcester Business Journal

10 Worcester Business Journal | May 30, 2022 | wbjournal.com BY ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL WBJ Staff Writer O n June 3, delegates from the Massachusetts Democratic Party will convene at Worcester's DCU Center, as well as virtually, to determine which candidate they will throw their support behind ahead of the state primary in September. A candidate must receive support from at least 15% of delegates to be on the primary ballot. Two candidates have emerged as being able to meet that demand: Sonia Chang-Díaz, a state senator hailing from Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood, and Maura Healey, who serves as attorney general for Massachusetts. Healey is more experienced in running a statewide election and currently polls well ahead of Chang-Díaz, but the state senator has run an aggressive campaign based on a more progressive policy platform. Worcester Business Journal spoke to both candidates separately, ahead of the convention, to ask about their stances on the state's economic issues, particularly how they pertain to Central Massachusetts. As governor, how would you support the ongoing economic development in Central Massachusetts? Sonia Chang-Díaz: My strategies as governor are always going to be grounded in the fundamentals, and our best bet for economic growth, economic prosperity, and broadly shared prosperity for Central Massachusetts, is investing in our people and our infrastructure. This tracks very closely with the things I've heard over and over again from both business leaders and employees. Their current position is, and I think this will continue to be true after the pandemic, is there are difficulties in finding the workforce they need and frustrations with transportation infrastructure. This is why the fight for the Student Opportunity Act was a five-year passion for me, and I was so proud to do that in deep partnership with some phenomenal champions from Worcester, like State Rep. Mary Keefe and Tracy Novick, field director for the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. This is going to create, and already is creating, millions and millions of dollars' worth of new investments in the young people of Worcester and Central Mass., with more investment to come in the next five years. Maura Healey: As governor, that is going to be my top priority. How do you build and grow economies across this state? And certainly, in Worcester and Worcester County, there is an economic boom. It's happening in Central Mass right now. And what our next governor needs to do is to make sure we're really pushing on all fronts, that we're practicing the full potential of Central Mass. and Worcester. In Central Mass., I think about the opportunities we have there. You've seen life sciences move there, and you've got opportunities with climate tech, clean energy manufacturing, and climate security-related manufacturing. There's a lot that we can be bringing to Worcester and Central Massachusetts But those are some of the things that are top-of-mind to me in order to make sure that Massachusetts remains competitive with other states to make sure that people stay in Massachusetts. Worcester's population is 46% people of color. Do you have plans for Ahead of their competition for delegates at the convention in Worcester, the leading Democratic candidates for governor detail their plans for Central Massachusetts business e next four years Republican Q&A The 2022 Massachusetts Republican Nominating Convention was held May 21, where Geoff Diehl and Chris Doughty were selected for the Sept. 6 primary ballot. WBJ is planning on doing a Q&A with the Republican candidates closer to that date. Sonia Chang-Díaz State senator Represents: 2nd Suffolk District Age: 44 Residence: Jamaica Plain, in Boston Hometown: Boston College: University of Virginia Maura Healey Massachusetts attorney general Age: 51 Residence: Charlestown, in Boston Hometown: Hampton Falls, N.H. Colleges: Harvard University, Northeastern University School of Law PHOTO | COURTESY OF SONIA CHANG-DIAZ FOR GOVERNOR CAMPAIGN

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