2026 Governor's Councillor Sixth District
The Massachusetts Governor’s Council (also called the Executive Council) is made up of eight elected Councillors. The Council meets weekly to record advice and consent on warrants for the state treasury, pardons and commutations, and to record advice and consent to gubernatorial appointments such as judges, clerk-magistrates, public administrators, members of the Parole Board, Appellate Tax Board, Industrial Accident Board and Industrial Accident Reviewing Board, notaries, and justices of the peace. They also approve notaries and justices of the peace. Councillors serve two-year terms with no term limits.
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Diann Mary Baylis
(Dem)
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Terrence W. Kennedy
(Dem)
Why do you think the Governor’s Council is important?
How would you ensure that diverse perspectives are considered in your decision-making?
How would you identify and tackle bias in pardons and appointments?
What are your top criteria for supporting or opposing judicial nominees and justices of the peace?
Campaign Phone
5082771133
While campaigning across the 6th District, I have found that most people do not know what the Governor’s Council is, or who their current Governor’s Councilor is. This is concerning because the Governor’s Council plays a very important role. One of the duties of the Council is to confirm state judges that are nominated by the Governor, including to the Supreme Judicial Court. This is incredibly important because these judges are appointed for life, and they have a great deal of discretion in making decisions that affect people’s lives and safety every single day. The Governor’s Council is also charged with certifying the state’s election results. This role could become increasingly important as we work to protect our democracy.
The 6th Governor’s Council District is one of the most diverse in the state, encompassing some of the state’s highest and lowest-income communities. I have actively campaigned in all of them, talking with voters from all backgrounds about their concerns and priorities. As an immigration attorney I work with children from numerous countries and ethnic backgrounds, and served a very diverse constituency as part of the attorney-of-the-day program at the Essex Probate and Family Court, where I helped low-income people from diverse backgrounds navigate their day in court, often involving vitally important matters of child custody and domestic violence. I’m committed to making sure that every voice is heard by the Governor's Council.
I would look at the individual circumstances of each pardon recommendation and make decisions on the merits. I would handle appointments by doing my own research to find out if that particular person is worthy of the appointment. I would prioritize outreach to community organizations that are knowledgeable about the particular circumstances of each pardon recommendation and appointment, and would listen carefully to voters, so that I can make well-informed and unbiased decisions (and encourage other members of the Council to do the same).
My top criteria will be that judicial nominees be not only knowledgeable and well respected, but also open-minded and compassionate. I will also want to see judges that are committed to protecting the civil rights of Massachusetts residents, which are under threat from the Trump Administration. In my work as an immigration attorney I work with unaccompanied immigrant children who start their visa process in the state’s probate courts. I want to ensure that probate judges are going to be open-minded to the unique circumstances of these immigrant kids, and avoid delays that leave these children at risk of deportation. I also want probate judges that will be fair to those involved with family law proceedings, very often women and children.
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