GREENFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — Greenfield City Council President Lora Wondolowski has announced that she is running for State Representative in the 1st Franklin District. Natalie Blais resigned from that position last month after taking over that seat in 2019.

Wondolowski said in a press release announcing her candidacy that she will look to use her experience to focus on issues unique to residents of the district, including aging infrastructure, and a state structure that she says is not designed to serve local families and businesses.

Here is the press release from Lora Wondolowski’s campaign:

Greenfield City Council President Lora Wondolowski Announces Candidacy for State Representative in the 1st Franklin District

Greenfield — Lora Wondolowski, Greenfield resident and City Council President, today announced her candidacy for State Representative in the 1st Franklin District, pledging to bring experienced, community-grounded leadership to Beacon Hill at a moment when rural communities are facing rising costs, aging infrastructure, and state systems that were not designed with towns like those in Franklin County in mind.

A longtime Franklin County resident, Wondolowski brings more than two decades of experience working for and directing nonprofit organizations focused on civic engagement, environmental protection, and leadership development. Her work has included navigating complex budgets, staffing structures, and funding systems to deliver results at scale. This work includes bringing together leaders around issues facing Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties. She first entered public service when proposed school budget cuts threatened the education of local children. As a single parent with two children in Greenfield public schools, she stepped forward to protect what she saw as the heart of the community. That moment launched her involvement in public service, defined by listening, collaboration, and a commitment to equity.

“Rural communities in Franklin County are being left behind by systems that weren’t built for us,” Wondolowski said. “I’ve spent my career fighting for environmental protection, education, and fair funding at the local, regional, state, and national levels. I’m running to bring that experience, collaborative leadership, and a track record of getting things done to Beacon Hill.”

As President of the Greenfield City Council, she has worked collaboratively to strengthen public schools, expand housing options, revitalize downtown, make forward-looking investments that save taxpayer dollars, and protect LGBTQ rights.

As a state representative, Wondolowski will focus on the issues shaping daily life in the 1st Franklin District. Here are a few key issues:

• Housing affordability and availability. While the county was once an affordable place to buy a home, many families are now priced out. Rural towns lack starter homes, and housing programs often rely on unit thresholds and water and sewer infrastructure models that do not work outside Greater Boston.
  
  
  
• Education funding that works for rural districts. Declining enrollment, aging school buildings, and heavy reliance on residential property taxes force communities into impossible choices between cutting programs and laying off educators.
  
  
  
• Rural equity in state policy and investment. Funding formulas for transportation, education, and local aid consistently disadvantage rural communities, even as they face aging populations and economic transition.
  
  
  
• Environmental protection and climate resilience. Franklin County’s rivers, forests, and farms are central to the region’s economy and identity. Climate change is already increasing flooding, stressing utility systems, and making farming more unpredictable. Wondolowski supports climate solutions that strengthen resilience, lower long-term costs, create local jobs, and are developed at the right scale and in the right places. She also supports improved transportation options, including Northern Tier rail and microtransit, to increase economic mobility and reduce emissions.
  
  
  

“These are complex challenges, and they require thoughtful, collaborative solutions,” Wondolowski said. “I believe in listening first, working across differences, and delivering results that reflect the values and realities of Franklin County.”

Get updates at facebook.com/WondolowskiFranklin1st.