Residents in the 1^st Franklin District are invited to a Candidate Forum for State Representative on Tuesday, August 11 from 5:30pm-7:30pm at the Shelburne Falls Theater at Memorial Hall, 51 Bridge St. Moderated by NEPM host Monte Belmonte, the forum will feature candidates for State Representative Corinne Coryat of Deerfield, Amy Lavalee of Whately, and Lora Wondolowski of Greenfield. Two candidates are vying for the 1^st Franklin Democratic nomination ahead of the September 1 primary, and one Independent candidate rounds out the ballot.

Candidates will offer brief opening and closing statements, answer questions focused on food and farm issues, and field questions from the audience, moderated by Monte Belmonte of New England Public Media.

Community members are encouraged to attend to ask their questions to candidates in person. The event will be recorded and live streamed on Falls Cable. Attendees are asked to register and submit questions in advance.

In January, Deerfield Representative Natalie Blais announced her resignation to accept a position with UMass-Amherst. Blais won her seat in 2018, prevailing over a half-dozen candidates  after the 2020 Census changed the district radically. In May 2026, three candidates secured their place on the ballot.

The 1st Franklin District consists of Ashfield, Bernardston, Buckland, Charlemont, Colrain, Conway, Deerfield, Hawley, Heath, Leverett, Leyden, Monroe, Montague, Rowe, Shelburne, Sunderland, Whately, and Greenfield Precincts 5, 6, 7 and 8.