NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - Governor’s Councillor-elect Tara Jacobs (D) said she’s looking forward to representing all 102 cities and towns within the 8th District, an area which spans from the New York border all the way to parts of Worcester County. 

“It’s the largest elected office district outside of the state level,” Jacobs said.

The Governor's council weighs in on items like appointing judges, parole boards, pardons and commutations and draws on the state's treasury.

“So they sign warrants, every week they get warrants on the treasury," Jacobs said, "Representing billions of dollars of our state budget on things like infrastructure projects that maybe have change orders and are running over budget, those come through the Governor's Council for approval.”

Along with campaigning, the North Adams native, who works with the city's school committee, said she’s spent the last few months meeting with diverse legal minds.

“I want to see more diversity on the bench, on the parole boards," Jacobs said. "I was particularly driven by our state’s incarcerated population's disparities. We have above and beyond extreme over-representation from Black and Brown people in our incarcerated population."

Jacobs is excited to work with the newly elected Healey-Driscoll administration and make a statewide impact.

“The nature of the work they do is so important, and so I really hope to be that voice from western Mass. to weigh in when it’s local," Jacobs said. "But just, at a state level, to be doing the kind of work that affects change across the entire state is a super exciting opportunity, so I really can’t wait to dive in.”

Jacobs said a main priority for her as the western Massachusetts voice on the council will be advocating for equity across the Commonwealth.