To the editor:
In the Sept. 4 primary, Berkshire County voters decided that they wanted someone who made firm commitments on specific policies around criminal justice reform. They chose candidate Andrea Harrington. Normally the loser in a primary supports the winning candidate to make sure that they can win for their party — but not in our county. The loser of the primary decided that he needed to challenge not only the winner but the voters of Berkshire County.
This challenge was explained by saying he’s “not a politician.” It’s an appealing claim that is repeatedly challenged by the decisions he has made throughout his entire campaign.
Paul Caccaviello made a political calculation to cheat voters with his predecessor’s hands-off “early retirement,” which the Berkshire Eagle called “shameless.” Then, knowing there aren’t enough Republican voters in Berkshire County, he decided to change his party registration to Democrat only to run in the very primary he then lost. During his campaign announcement, he made an ethics violation having uniformed police officers behind him. How could the first assistant district attorney not know better?
Not graciously accepting his loss in the primary, he then launched his write-in campaign, likely the pressure of those who have held onto power in the Berkshires for a long time. He continues to spout the false idea that he claims only registered Democrats were able to vote in the Sept. 4 primary. In truth, nine out of 10 Berkshire County voters were able to vote in that primary. Only people registered as Republicans were not able to vote in the Democratic primary.
Both candidates are politicians because the seat they are running for is an elected political position. Anyone ever running for office is a politician. Don’t let one candidate fool you into thinking otherwise. To have a district attorney selected and not elected is an insult to the intelligence of voters. But out of the two candidates, one of them has had a campaign of integrity and focused on the issues: Andrea Harrington. The other — the Caccaviello team and supporters — has run a campaign full of negative attacks and sounds of desperation. It’s an outdated approach and a turn-off to me and many voters.
There is a reason Andrea Harrington has won so many endorsements, especially from other progressive leaders: She is visionary, tough, ethical and the intelligent voice our district attorney’s office needs.
Leo Yantovsky
Pittsfield
