2024 Governor's Councillor First District
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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Krysten Condon
(I)
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Joseph C. Ferreira
(Dem)
Why do you think the Governor’s Council is important?
What are your top criteria for supporting or opposing judicial nominees?
Which criteria do you consider most essential in selecting parole board candidates?
What are your top considerations when considering the Governor’s pardon recommendations?
Why do you believe that you are the best candidate, at this particular time, for the Governor’s Council?
Campaign Phone
7818312513
Governor’s Council shapes the important parts of our court system. The council confirms the appointment of judges, clerks and appointments to important judicial boards such as the parole board, appellate tax board and the industrial accident board that governs workman’s compensation. It picks the people that control the courts.
Hands on litigation experience in the court in which they are seeking appointment. For example, an applicant for a specific court judgeship should have practiced in that court as an attorney, not just as a clerk, administrator or advisor. You can’t understand the litigants and the attorneys practicing before you if you don’t have a lot of experience practicing in that specific court yourself.
The most essential criteria for selecting parole board candidates is a working knowledge of the underlying criminal process. This means that the applicant has a working knowledge of the effects of mental health, addiction, poverty, education, and all the other social problems that contribute to a prisoner’s sentence along with sentencing guidelines and criminal procedure. Those societal problems don’t disappear when a person is sentenced. They must be considered when deciding whether a prisoner is ready and able to rejoin society.
My top considerations would be the victim and victim’s family input along with the behavioral history of the prisoner. I would take into account the time that had passed, the age and health of the prisoner and the underlying crimes. However, I would look at the facts and circumstances of a conviction in consideration of the culture of prosecution at the time the sentence was imposed. No one should be incarcerated for a crime they did not commit. Justice requires correcting mistakes in the system. You can’t turn a blind eye and blindly believe that corruption does not exist.
I believe that I can provide a fresh view to the Governor’s Council that is free from political pressure. As an independent, I am not going to appoint a nominee just because they have “the right connections” or support a party’s agenda. I will ensure that each nominee is evaluated on their own personal experience and qualifications and will give everyone a fair opportunity. The judicial system should be reflective of the society they are judging so they understand the people before them.
We give advice and consent to every judicial appointment in the Commonwealth. They make important decisions every day. We also give advice and consent for notaries, Justices of the Peace, Appellate Tax Board, and pardons.
Nominees must be empathetic and very smart. They need vast experience before being nominated.
The ability to decide who is best to be released. They must be highly involved in understanding programs that work and what best serves society to alleviate recidivism.
Taking responsibility, seeking forgiveness and the victim's feelings.
First, I am the proud dad of 3 daughters who have grown to be successful citizens.
I have had the honor and experience of serving for 10 years. I am a retired police chief and have been an attorney for 32 years. I bring a wealth of life experience, decades of numerous court appearances and I know a lot about what makes a great Judge.
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