State Senate race heating up

Knuuttila gaining support from Chair City officials

By Owen Boss

GARDNER— Former state Rep. Brian Knuuttila is gaining widespread support from city officials who have been literally lining up to endorse his candidacy for state Senate. City officials are particularly impressed with his credentials which include careers as a local police officer, attorney, and eight years of experience in the state House of Representatives. Mr. Knuuttila, a Gardner Democrat, will run for the state Senate seat that is being vacated by Sen. Robert Antonioni, D-Leominster, who held the position for 16 years. Recently both current and former members of the Gardner City Council gathered on the steps of City Hall to show Mr. Knuuttila their support. Those present included Cleo Monette, Henry Ares, Joshua Cormier, James Robinson, James Minns and Roger Jaillet. President of the Gardner Chamber of Commerce, Mike Ellis, cited Mr. Knuuttila’s depth of experience as one reason why he is endorsing his candidacy for state Senate. “There’s no doubt that I am endorsing Brian Knuuttila,” said Mr. Ellis, “This is a man who represented cities like Gardner and Fitchburg for 10 years, and due to that experience, he knows what the issues are for Fitchburg and Leominster and Gardner as cities, he knows what the small communities are going through because during his career he represented both the large cities and small towns and that is a perspective that no other candidate can bring to the table.” Also showing support for Mr. Knuuttila was City Councilor Joshua Cormier, who said that he has confidence in Mr. Knuuttila’s ability to succeed in state Senate because of the life experience he has gained from his other professions. “Through his service as a police officer with the Athol, Shirley, Gardner, and Fitchburg State College Police Departments, he saw firsthand that civic responsibility is essential to the continued health of our neighborhoods and can only be achieved through hard work, cooperation, and perseverance,” said Mr. Cormier. “Additionally, as a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, he defended these beliefs on a national level, protecting those values that define our country.” oboss@thegardnernews.com

Appeared on Page 1 on 4/25/2008 (Vol. 206 No. 99)