PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Ranking Berkshire law enforcement officials are putting their weight behind a Springfield lawyer for Governor's Council in the September Democratic primary over North Adams incumbent Tara Jacobs.

 

The Berkshires' District Attorney Timothy Shugrue, Sheriff Thomas Bowler, and Clerk of Courts Lisa Denault-Viale touted Michael Fenton's experience and approach over Jacobs, who bested him and two other attorneys in 2022.  

 

The Governor's Council advises the governor on matters relating to judicial appointments, treasury warrants, pardons and commutations, and a number of other important executive functions. The winner of the primary will represent the 8th District, which covers more than 100 cities and towns including North Adams, Adams, Pittsfield, Greenfield, Northampton and Springfield, as there is no other candidate on the November ballot.

 

Gathering at Park Square on Wednesday morning, Shugrue said Jacobs does not provide the representation Berkshire County requires and deserves. 

 

"This individual [Fenton] would conduct himself with a great deal of common sense and confidence," Bowler said. 

 

Fenton said there are only 11 Superior Court judges assigned to Western Mass, and that too few of them are from Berkshire County. 

 

"At one time there were four vacancies. That left only seven judges serving the entire 102 cities and towns of the western region. Seven judges serving 102 cities and towns at a time when you add Hampden County, Springfield, Holyoke, and Chicopee in, at a time when there were over 100 pending murder cases. Seven judges for 100 pending murder cases," he said. 

 

"It's unacceptable. It's a problem that can be solved with effective and pragmatic leadership on the Governor's Council, and it's a part of the reason why I'm running." 

 

The officers pointed to Jacobs joining the majority of councillors to reject Parole Board nominee Vincent DeMore in May, despite heavy lobbying by Gov. Maura Healey. The councillors have been reluctant to appoint a prosecutor to the Parole Board, which would, according to some members, make the seven-member board majority law enforcement. 

 

Shugrue said DeMore, a prosecutor-turned-defense attorney, was an "exceptional" candidate. 

 

"Tara Jacobs voted against him. She viewed him as too involved in public safety. All three of us here are in public safety. The Parole Board has lasting impacts on our community," he said. 

 

"After Jacobs and the council voted against DeMore, the Parole Board released a man serving a life sentence for beating his 2-year-old son, who was from Pittsfield, with a wiffle ball bat, and also beating his other children. I and many others strongly opposed that release. This is why appointing a qualified Parole Board member who valued public safety is crucial to our community." 

 

Richard N. Mayes Jr., now 78, was released to a halfway house in June after serving 43 years of a life sentence. 

 

To a request for comment from iBerkshires, Jacobs responded via email that she has the endorsement of Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan, and has recruited, gotten nominations, and confirmed several prosecutors for judicial positions in Western Mass. 

 

"The support my opponent is receiving seems to be rooted in one specific vote," she wrote.

 

"My record and work in the District 8/Western Mass region has been fully inclusive of a broad spectrum of voices, including Sheriffs, DAs, CPCS and Bar advocates, Community Legal Aid, lawyers across every practice area, and many, many diverse voices at the individual and community organization level." 

 

Denault-Viale, at the press conference, said she didn't have to explain to Fenton how important it is to have judges appointed to Superior Court who are familiar with the community: "he already understood." Right now, the Superior Court has almost twice as many criminal cases as Franklin and Hampshire's Superior Courts combined, she said, and about the same amount of civil cases. 

 

Fenton argued that in the past four years, Berkshire County has not had a single appointment of a resident to the Superior Court or District Court bench, and the courts are "dangerously" understaffed. 

 

Shugrue said he has known Fenton's family for years, and this kind of endorsement is rare.

 

"You understand that Springfield is not Pittsfield. Springfield has different issues. Springfield is not Berkshire County. We are a very complex community. We're a very diversified community. Our crime rate is under control. Unfortunately, Springfield isn't," he said. 

 

"When judges come up here, and they judge the cases they see down there, they see our cases as minor compared to what they have there. They are major to us because I am not going to let Berkshire County turn into Springfield. I'm not going to turn into a drug and gun violence location. So that's why I know that I had to stand up." 

 

Bowler said in his conversations with Fenton and observing his previous campaign, the candidate understands public safety, the judiciary, the district attorney's office and the role of the staff at the courthouse.

 

"In our conversations, he understands that the judges, the judiciary that we have here, have a vital impact on the inmate population that I have in jail," he added. 

 

"And what we're looking for are judges who are holding people accountable, but also understand how vitally important it is for successful re-entry." 

 

Fenton is a graduate of Western New England University School of Law, where he served on the Law Review, and holds a Master of Business Administration. He is also an adjunct professor at the Western New England University School of Law. 

 

A lifelong resident of Springfield, Fenton currently serves as the Ward 2 city councilor and was previously elected as the youngest and first openly gay council president in Springfield's history.