DiSanti makes bid for clerk of courts

Date: 4/17/2012

April 16, 2012

By Katelyn Gendron

katelyn@thereminder.com

CHICOPEE — The Hampden County Clerk of Courts is a position "written just for me," according to Linda Stec DiSanti of Chicopee, who formally announced her candidacy before a crowd of approximately 300 people at the Hue Ke Lau on April 12.

The position, which is being vacated by Brian Lees, already has a field of potential candidates including Springfield City Councilor Thomas Ashe and Laura Gentile and Kevin Claffey, both assistant clerk magistrates.

"It's an administrative position and it's about managing people and you don't need to be a lawyer to do that ... you have to be a people person. I think I have that market cornered too. I'm not trying say this because I have a swelled head, I just think I'm the best candidate for the job," DiSanti told Reminder Publications.

She noted that while she isn't a lawyer, she does have experience in law and business as the legal administrator and office manager of DiSanti Law Offices in West Springfield for the past 32 years. DiSanti said she also worked in law offices in Chicopee and Springfield for 12 years prior to joining the family business in West Side.

She received her master's degree from Western New England University and a bachelor's degree from Elms College, both in business administration, and her associates' degree in legal secretarial science.

DiSanti noted that her age, 62, has been called into question but said she plans to complete the first term "with no other political aspirations because I'm not a political jumper."

She added, "With age comes experience and wisdom."

When asked what she thought of the other candidates, DiSanti replied that she has "the utmost respect" for Gentile, who she has known for some time, but questioned her administrative experience. She also questioned the managerial qualifications the other candidates may or may not possess.

"I don't plan on being a problem to anybody, I just want to present myself and let the people decide," she added.

DiSanti is married to Attorney Gerard DiSanti and the mother of Attorney Francis DiSanti and grandmother of two.