The Massachusetts Governor s Council, also known as the Executive Council, is composed of eight individuals elected from districts, plus the Lieutenant Governor who serves ex officio. The eight councillors are elected from their districts every two years. The Council meets weekly to record advice and consent on warrants for the state treasury, pardons and commutations, and recording 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. Base salary is $36,025.
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Campaign Phone
978-401-1577
Measures
Experience and Qualifications
I have observed Governor’s Council meetings since the early 90’s. As a student of criminal justice with a both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in criminal justice, I understand the role and importance of this under-the-radar Constitutional body that acts as a check and balance on the Governor by approving or rejecting the governor’s judicial and parole board nominees, and petitions for pardons and commutations. The Governor’s Council is the people’s last line of defense in our civil and criminal legal system in the dissemination of justice and, as such, transparency, accountability and independence of the Governor’s Council is essential.
For these important positions whose decisions gravely affect the lives of average citizens, EXPERIENCE is the most important qualification. There is a little known but serious problem in our judicial system: when a judge is appointed to the district or superior court, he or she sits on both civil cases and criminal cases, whether or not they have ever had prior experience in criminal, or vice versa. The public suffers greatly when attorneys, who have devoted their entire careers to specialized areas of law, ascend to the bench. The public cannot continue to suffer through what can only be viewed as on-the-job training for newly appointed judges —the stakes are simply too high. Experience in both criminal and civil law is essential.
It is imperative that a parole board member know how to interpret the documents in front of them when assessing a parolee’s risk to reoffend upon their release from incarceration. Everyone’s criminal and institutional records are unique and tell a story significant to only them. Do the records tell the story of an individual who has taken many steps and sought opportunities to address their addiction, anger management, or improve their life skills hoping to prepare themselves to become better citizens, better parents or heathier individuals or does their record show continued denial and lack of accountability or genuine effort to curb their past behaviors? The ideal parole board member is one who can understand &fairly assess these stories.
The Advisory Board of Pardons (Parole Board) has experienced members from various backgrounds including mental health, substance use disorder, probation officers and defense attorneys. They thoroughly vet pardon requests and advise based on public safety. I would give more consideration to the recommendation of these experts than I would to those from prominent politicians or those with political influence who are not experts but merely elected representatives. Politics should have no place in the Governor’s pardon process whatsoever—to include getting those with connections to the top of the list while jumping over thousands of others. Such a practice is unfair, unjust and must end.
I have attended Governor’s Council hearings for judgeships and pardons. I know how the council works; I know what they do, don’t do and should do. I am uniquely qualified for this position. My 25-year record of fighting for justice for my constituents as a Peabody City Councilor and School Committee member and my 30 years public safety experience working in male and female adult and juvenile secure facilities and detention diversion programs, uniquely qualifies me to evaluate the far-reaching effects judges and parole board decisions have on our residents. I operate without fear or favor, always focusing on what is in the best interest of those I serve. No one in this race brings remotely that amount of significant and relevant experience.
Campaign Phone
9785661196
Measures
Enhancing transparency and Community Engagement
I plan to hold public forums for community members to participate in the vetting of candidates. It is important to have community input. My main priority is to ensure that we appoint judges who are fair and understand the law. For Parole Board nominees my priority is to appoint members who are also fair and detail oriented. For both judicial and parole board members it is crucial that they are ethical.
The main qualities I see in any nominee is transparency, trustworthiness, responsibility, diligence, morality, fairness, and being community focused. These qualities, when embodied by any candidate who will assume either of the offices appointed by the Governor’s Council with dignity and an understanding of the importance of their role as it relates to the health of our Commonwealth. As a Governor’s Councillor, I intend to collaborate with the community to identify whether candidates meet these criteria. I will oppose any candidate that has demonstrated the track record of degrading the law for personal gain or conviction.
I plan to hold public forums for community members to participate in the vetting of candidates. It is important to have community input. For Parole Board nominees my priority is to appoint members who are also fair and detail oriented. For both judicial and parole board members it is crucial that they are ethical.
As a
Governor's Councillor, I would have the power to grant pardons and commutations. I would review the applicants track record while incarcerated, determine whether they have taken steps to further their education and or positively enhance the prison
environment.
9 out of 10 people I speak with about the Governor's Council do not know what the body does or about its potential to be another avenue of advocacy for them. I seek to open up the conversation and increase community engagement with the Governor’s Council through community information sessions. These sessions will be especially useful as a tool when we have judicial nominees up for consideration. Increasing transparency and access is an important aspect of public service, of which I feel needs more attention.
