To the editor:
“Old boys club,” “Back room deal,” “Disregard for the democratic process.” Political hack attacks from Washington, D.C.? Boston? Nope, Berkshire County. Just three of the unreasoned, misleading, unsavory, and untrue political attacks aimed at Paul Caccaviello by Andrea Harrington and her supporters.
Maura Healey recently endorsed Harrington. The Massachusetts Attorney General stated she did not “know Mr. Caccaviello…[or] worked with him.” Why did she endorse Harrington? Because while Harrington was a delegate at the 2014 Democratic State Convention, she endorsed Healy’s campaign for Attorney General.
A political debt repaid. A “back room deal” completed.
Harrington ran in the 2016 Democratic primary for state senate. Political connections made then resulted in endorsements from the Pittsfield mayor, several Pittsfield city councilors, and state representatives for the DA’s race. State Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier even suggested Judith Knight drop out of the primary to help Harrington.
Harrington’s fundraising success far exceeded that of Caccaviello and Knight collectively, with much of her money coming from outside Berkshire County. Despite that, she won the Democratic Primary only by a plurality, not a majority. The combined votes for Caccaviello and Knight were far greater (Caccaviello/Knight 13,049) than votes cast for Harrington (8,511).
By marshalling two campaigns in two years, Harrington revealed her political ambitions: the DA’s race is just a steppingstone for this politician. Why else would a lawyer who wholly lacks any meaningful experience in the criminal justice system and who overstates and misrepresents her legal qualifications and experience run for district attorney? Clearly, she does not care whether she is district attorney or state senator so long as she wields political power.
Caccaviello’s appointment was not a political scheme. If he had not been appointed, he would have been required to resign his position to run for district attorney, leaving the office without leadership. Governor Baker made the only sensible decision and appointed Caccaviello.
Caccaviello is a successful and respected criminal trial attorney and experienced manager. He will implement the Crime Reform bill and continue to work with agencies including the FBI, state police, local law enforcement, and sheriff’s department. In 40 years of practice, I have never heard anyone speak ill of Paul.
After the primaries, I spoke with Andrea Harrington at a Berkshire Bar function. I wished her luck in the general election but told her I was a Caccaviello supporter. Harrington’s only words, as she walked away, were “I feel sorry for you.”
Don’t feel sorry, write in PAUL CACCA-VI-ELLO.
Alan J. Righi
Pittsfield, Mass.
The author is an attorney practicing in Pittsfield.
