One of the most heated primary elections in Western Massachusetts this Thursday is the Democratic race for Hampden County sheriff. Three candidates are vying for the nomination: Michael Albano, Thomas Ashe and Nick Cocchi. Albano is the former mayor of Springfield and a current member of the Governor’s Council. Ashe is a Springfield city councilor and former corrections worker. Cocchi is a deputy superintendent in the Hampden County Sheriff’s office.
Reporter Stephanie Barry has been covering the race for the Springfield Republican newspaper. She tells us why the sheriff’s race is so important to Hampden County.
Click the audio player above to hear Stephanie Barry’s conversation with New England Public Radio’s Henry Epp.