My Middlesex DA Dilemma
So…the race for the high-profile position of Middlesex D.A. is going strong. We have three candidates - Jarrett Barrios, Mike Festa, and Gerry Leone. Two (Festa and Barrios) have solid progressive creds. The third, Leone, (as I understand it) is the conservative of the three. One of these days I’ll attempt to get some conversations in with him (he probably doesn’t even know I exist…)
Frankly, I’m not sure I’ll be able to make an endorsement for the DA race. I really like both Festa (who enthusiastically greeted me at Saturday’s Kennedy campaign kickoff event in Lowell, kudos to him for his enormous sign-waving presence there) and Barrios.
A lot of bloggers, readers, and various and sundry say that Barrios is running because of personal ambition. Middlesex D.A.’s often go on to bigger and better things (see Martha Coakley). I can only tell you what I know personally. I believe completely that Jarrett is running because he wants the job. You can practically see his mind racing ahead of himself when he’s talking about his ideas about transforming the office with progressive policies and programs. He’s extremely personable, though that’s not odd I guess if you’re going to be a candidate for anything…but he does strike one as genuine. It is my estimation that his head will be in the job 100%. If he has ambition to move up to higher and higher office, I don’t begrudge him that, and if this is a calculated step, it’s also the case that you will not find a more enthusiastic officeholder so long as he holds the office.
Except, maybe, for Mike Festa. He certainly matches Barrios in enthusiasm for his campaign for D.A.-ship. I’ve met him now I think three times, and despite the fact I always end up talking to him too long (when I should be, say, working the room for Deval) I really enjoy our conversations.
Mike has more creds in terms of background in law enforcement then Jarrett, and as Mike will tell you, he knows how to speak the language of the people on the ground - police, attorneys, judges. His progressive creds are less emphasized but he does have them. He isn’t immune to idealism (which Jarrett has in spades) in attempting to transform the office of D.A., though Jarrett talks more about new programs he’d implement than I’ve heard Mike speak of. And I was especially impressed by Mike’s ability to not care if, in casual conversation, his passion squeaked out in the form of a mild swear word. 
So, there’s my dilemma. I really like both of them. I think they’d both do a spectacular job. They have different strengths, and subtle differences, but you have two great progressive, hard-working candidates to choose from. And I know they are interested in meeting you, so to that end they will at some point be invited to come and have a pint with us at Drinking Liberally (and they are free to email me any time if they want to take the initiative).
This is what democracy is all about, kids! Good candidates, good choices. In these two contenders, you might find that someone you believe in…don’t be afraid to stick your neck out there and volunteer or donate to either of them. Meanwhile, I’ll try to make up my own mind.
January 31st, 2006 at 4:28 pm
What a great dilemma to be in! I agree on a lot of your analysis and couldn’t be more thrilled to have an election in which I have to choose be awesome and awesome! (Can’t you tell I am excited, look at those exclamation points!) We need more races where good progressives are going head to head. Good luck with your decision Lynne, though I am leaning toward Festa.
January 31st, 2006 at 6:17 pm
I met Jarrett Barrios at a small meeting (the same time I met the Mayor of Worcester). I agree he is quite passionate. I particularly like his ideas about crime prevention by dealing with the root causes of crime.
Most DA’s seem to go for the high-profie conviction, but he seems to want to prevent the high-profile crimes.
February 2nd, 2006 at 8:18 am
Barrios has been up to Lowelll a lot and I think he understands its importance. I’m leaning to him in the race right now. Festa seems like a good guy but let’s face it he’s waaaaay behind in fundraising which shouldn’t mean much but it means a lot in a race this big. Plus Barrios has some great experience and understands how important prevention is. I point to his anti-gang bill that just passed, even the Lowell Sun supported his efforts! Anyway, that’s an indication to me how hard he’ll work. He is very passionate plus he’s one of our most dedicated progressives. We’ll see how this thing shakes up…
February 3rd, 2006 at 12:23 pm
Greetings to Lynne, Andy, A Rational Being, and Dem activist!
I am working as the Communications Director for Mike Festa. I am happy to hear that you are all giving serious consideration to both Festa and Barrios.
I just wanted to provide a few updates and a bit of information in response to your thoughtful comments and inquiries.
1. I am happy to repor that Mike Festa raised $40,000 (already in the bank) in the month of January alone. Our internal goal for January was for Mike to raise $70,000 in pledges to assure of us of $100,000 in the bank by the middle of February. Instead, he has raised over $200,000 in pledges! So, we no longer think money is going to be an issue I am happy to say.
2. Mike Festa is the only candidate in the race with both kinds of experience necessary for the job: Festa has 27 years of experience as a criminal law attorney, including having served as an Assistant District Attorney under John Kerry, and 32 years of community leadership experience.
3. Festa is the only candidate in the race who is a nationally recognized expert in criminal justice POLICY, serving as Chair of the criminal justice board of Council of State Governments.
4. In this regard, Festa is a firm progressive who would ensure both fairness and certainty of punishment by imposing consistent SENTENCING GUIDELINES. He also would advocate for MANDATORY POST-RELEASE SUPERVISION, both to assist in societal re-integration and to make our streets safer through rational follow-up to incarceration.
5. With his deep community ties, Mike Festa has the ability to stop new drug scourges early through community action and community leadership. He’ll focus community leaders on
OXYCONTIN, CRYSTAL METH and HEROIN abuse early in the epidemics noyt only by targeting dealers, but also by and fully addressing issues of TREATMENT.
6. Mike has pledged (and believe he, as an openly gay man, I can tell you is passionate about) a ZERO TOLERANCE approach to domestic violence and hate crimes.
7. Mike Festa will use his intimate legal knowledge of the
Middlesex County criminal justice system to make good administrative
choices, like re-instituting the POLICE PROSECUTOR SYSTEM to
separate the wheat from the chaff in order to channel scarce taxpayer dollars to fight serious crime.
8. Finally, Mike advocates for rational salaries for Assistant District Attorneys, ich remain at a shameful level, to better recruit and retain the best young legal talent.
Mike has been endorsed by all three Lowell State Representatives.
Thanks to you all for your interest in Mike Festa’s candidacy. With the exit of Peter Koutoujian from the race, our momentum is very exciting. Thanks again and we ask you for your support! All the best.
Terry McGinty
www.mikefesta.com
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
February 9th, 2006 at 9:58 am
[…] for hosting the event. I will have a post later on who I have decided to support, unlike Lynne and sco I had no difficulty in choosing a cadidate to support.
[…]