LORIDA - Republican US Senate hopeful Jack E. Robinson's ''reform express'' tour of the state got off to an inauspicious start yesterday when he made his first stop at Town Hall and found the doors locked.
No supporters turned up for Robinson's inaugural campaign stop at this town, in the far northwestern corner of the state, with fewer than 500 registered voters.
But Robinson did happen into the town's supervisor of the department of public works in the town garage.
Undaunted, Robinson went to a nearby general store and wound up getting an earful from owner Tony Arigoni about cellular phone towers.
''We don't want them on Route 2. Big business wants to put them on our scenic mountains,'' Arigoni complained.
Robinson became a millionaire as a telecommunications executive.
From Florida, Robinson continued on his quest to drive his Cadillac with two staffers to 28 Western Massachusetts towns yesterday.
At a North Adams coffee shop, he got another surprise: Democratic US Representative John Olver was there sipping a cup of joe.
The men shook hands, and Robinson headed to an interview at a local radio station.
Robinson, who is challenging Democratic incumbent Senator Edward M. Kennedy, has said he hopes to visit all 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts before election day.
