The three democrats vying to be the next Hampden County Sheriff are at odds over hiring practices, how to approach addiction and who has most experience in the correction industry. They met recently in a debate sponsored by WWLP.
The next sheriff will follow a four-decade tenure by Michael Ashe, a popular Democrat who was praised for his compassionate approach to running to the Hampden County jail.
The Democrats who want the job are Michael Albano, former mayor of Springfield who’s on the governor’s council; Thomas Ashe, a Springfield city councilor who’s not related to the current sheriff; and Nick Cocchi, an assistant superintendent in the sheriff’s department.
Albano and Ashe criticized the department’s spending on outside consultants, including former employees who’ve retired. Cocchi said that was unfair criticism, since the consultants are highly qualified.
“Both my opponents just talked about the consultants, and how adamant they are against consultants,” Cocchi said. “But yet both just told you, they would hire an independent agency to come in and do the hiring process.”
In other words — also hire consultants.
Cocchi later pointed out that Albano’s public affairs company hired Thomas Ashe — as a consultant — while Ashe was on the school committee. Ashe said it was a legitimate position.
“And I’m thankful that Mr. Albano gave me the opportunity to do so,” Ashe said. “It was short lived, it was a thousand dollars, which I paid taxes, which I wasn’t required to report, because it was a consulting base and it wasn’t an employee.”
Albano faced a question from the moderator about patronage in hiring — if he won, would he bring in his own people?
“Every administration, whether it’s President Obama, or Governor Baker, or Mayor Albano, when I became mayor in 1996, you bring your own team in,” he said. “People have a similar philosophy. That’s just the nature of this business. Is it wholesale getting rid of everybody? No. And everybody will be evaluated. But clearly you want changes. That’s what elections are all about.”
But none of the candidates proposed big changes to the corrections strategy of the incumbent, which aims for gradual re-entry to society for offenders.
The winner of the September 8th Democratic primary for sheriff will face independent James Gill and Republican John Comerford in November.
Governor’s Council seat
Among the other races that will be decided on September 8th will be for the western Massachusetts seat on the Governor’s Council. Two candidates, both Democrats, want to replace Michael Albano, who is leaving his seat to run for sheriff.
The Governor’s Council is an eight-member body responsible for confirming appointees to state boards, including the parole board. Most importantly, it reviews the governor’s judicial nominees.
With three of his picks already confirmed this summer, Governor Charlie Baker is poised to nominate two more justices to the Supreme Judicial Court next year. During a debate this week at Focus Springfield TV, attorney Jeff Morneau said he has a litmus test for any the governor’s future picks for the state’s highest court.
“It has to somebody who is in favor of a woman’s right to choose, is in favor of marriage equality and against the death penalty. Those are three very important democratic values that I think that the sitting Supreme Court justice here in Massachusetts has to have,” said Morneau.
But his opponent, former Springfield mayor and judge Mary Hurley, said those three things are already part of state law. She said she wants justices committed to interpreting the law as written — and possess a good temperament.
“You have to treat people with respect,” Hurley said. “You have to have a good knowledge of the law, and you also have to have the ability to deal with…six other people…you’re going to discuss cases with.”
Hurley said the biggest issue facing the state courts is judicial vacancies, which slows down the system.
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” she said. “You have a right to expect when you go to court you’re going to have your case heard that day.”
But the candidates bickered over how many vacancies there really are. And regardless, Morneau — who heads the Hampden County Bar Association — said the bigger problem is keeping smaller courthouses, such as Orange and Great Barrington, open.
“The closure of those courts would cause serious transportation problems for people in those areas, and would cause major access to justice issues,” said Morneau
On other issues, both Hurley and Morneau rejected mandatory minimum sentencing and supported more racial and geographical diversity. The high court does not currently have a member from Western Massachusetts, and they both want at least one justice to come from the region.