To the Editor:
As a lifetime resident of Pittsfield, from the day I turned 18 to last election, I found myself writing in my father for District Attorney. This was not a joke, or a young man’s fancy; this was a conscious act. I knew, while no one ran for this position and an incumbent ran unopposed, nothing would change from the “old boy” network that plagued — and still plagues — this city and county as a whole. David Capeless is a relic of our sad past. His actions to appoint his assistant D.A. is disgusting. David Capeless along with Baker and Paul Caccaviello attempted to bypass the basics of our elective system.
Here are the facts: Capeless pulled re-election papers on February 14th from the Springfield branch of the Secretary of State’s office, leading the electorate to believe he is running. He then stepped down March 15th and appointed Caccaviello his replacement, making him an incumbent — all whilst Caccaviello swapped from a registered Republican to a Democrat in order to garner votes.
I cannot help but mention that opponent Judy Knight, who played spoiler for the opposition to the Capeless/Caccaviello scandal was interviewed leaving his primary night party by WAMC, seemingly to join his backhanded write-in campaign and finding herself a job in the D.A.’s office.
I sense several backroom, slimy deals. The same slimy deals I have smelled from the first day I was allowed to vote. Capeless, Caccaviello, Massimiano, Knight, Bianchi. We don’t need you anymore. We have moved on. You lost.
On November 6th, I plan to vote for Andrea Harrington, who already won the Democratic primary that the appointed D.A. should not have been a part of.
James W. Campagna
Pittsfield
