Dear fellow Democrats,
I understand there is some disappointment about my opposition to the election of Democrat Steve Buoniconti to the position of Hampden County DA. I would like to take this opportunity to explain why I will be supporting the Independent candidacy of Mark Mastroianni for this critically important position in local law enforcement. However, I also want to acknowledge the legitimacy of concerns about the party rules regarding the endorsement of non-Democrats. I am fully prepared to accept whatever sanctions the local or state party may choose to impose on me for my opposition to Buoniconti’s election and my strong support for his much more qualified opponent, Mark Mastroianni.
The fact that county offices like the sheriff, DA, and clerks of court include partisan primaries in Massachusetts is unfortunate. The nature of these posts, all of which involve the administration of justice, makes them a poor fit for partisan politics. The district attorney’s office cannot be allowed to become a landing zone or stop over post for career politicians. The effectiveness of the office requires that the DA stand beyond the reach of the political quid pro quo that animates the public policy making processes in city and town halls and on Beacon Hill. A district attorney’s credibility with average citizens is essential for the maintenance of effective partnerships with community leaders and neighborhood residents, whose cooperation in the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of crime is crucial.
If we elect a career state legislator, whose credentials as an attorney and a prosecutor are paper thin, and whose conduct on a number of fronts remains questionable, we may well be doing irreparable harm to the district attorney’s office by inviting very reasonable doubt about the capability and priorities of our county’s top law enforcement official. Furthermore, our town committee may well be doing harm to its own credibility by supporting a candidate that everyone knows is far less capable and qualified than his opponent. What is gained by holding our noses and supporting the Democrat Buoniconti? There is no policy issue on which Buoniconti has a substantively different position than his opponent. There is no difference in the stated goals of both candidates, or even in their support of particular law enforcement strategies. The only difference is that Buoniconti is simply saying what he’s told to say in order to get the job and Mastroianni actually knows what he’s talking about and has demonstrated that he wants to do the job.
I have listened very closely to each candidate in this race. Senator Buoniconti’s performances in the debates have been embarrassing. His campaign material and public statements are filled with vague generalizations and feel good rhetoric, something slightly more forgivable in a legislative election but totally unacceptable in a race for DA, especially from a candidate with a very weak resume. He is very clearly in way over his head.
I do not like having to speak so frankly and publicly about Senator Buoniconti’s lack of fitness for this position. As far as I know, he has been an able state senator and I have always known him to be a friendly sincere fellow, but we simply cannot afford to offer him the benefit of the doubt on a job like district attorney. On the job training is not appropriate for the county’s top cop, nor is the ever-present possibility of political scandal (real or trumped up by political adversaries) when electing a career politician.
I believe in the nobility of politics as well as the nobility of public service. With my support for Mark Mastroianni in the race for Hampden County DA, I am putting my money where my mouth is. I strongly encourage my fellow Democrats to put our party’s principles ahead of its protocols this November by casting your vote for Independent candidate Mark Mastroianni in the race for Hampden County District Attorney.
Jerold J. Duquette, M.P.A., Ph.D.
Member, Longmeadow Democratic Town Committee
Member, MA Democratic State Committee
69 Clairmont Street
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Jeroldduquette@comcast.net
www.jeroldduquette.org
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