It was an active week in DA's raceDate: 10/5/2010 Oct. 6, 2010
By G. Michael Dobbs
Managing Editor
GREATER SPRINGFIELD -- It was an active week in the district attorney's race, with both a prominent endorsement and the release of proposed programs.
On Sept. 24, State Sen. Stephen Buoniconti released a new initiative he would enact, if elected, that would address issues such as gang violence and bullying.
He told Reminder Publications he would make an assistant district attorney (ADA) available to schools in the county to work with teachers and principals on crime-related issues specific to that school.
He said he wants the District Attorney's Office to "get engaged in the school system."
When asked how the new program would fit into the existing budget for the office, Buoniconti explained he expects an ADA would spend about a half-hour a week, something he thinks is manageable.
"I'll go to any school that invites me, whoever want us, I'll go," he said.
Mark Mastroianni formally received the endorsement from Holyoke Police Chief Anthony Scott on Sept. 28 at the Holyoke Boys and Girls Club. Scott, who prefaced his remarks by saying that he was speaking as a private citizen and not as a representative of the Holyoke Police Department. Scott called Mastroianni was "heads and shoulders" over Buoniconti.
Scott said that, while Buoniconti "has been in Boston raising your taxes," "Mr. Mastroianni has been honing his [legal] skills."
Scott added that being district attorney is "not a reward for being a senator." He added, noting the difference in legal experience between the two candidates, that Mastroianni "doesn't need a remedial course in law like Mr. Buoniconti."
"All Mr. Buoniconti can do is direct people to Boston," Scott said. "I don't think he can prosecute a traffic violation."
Standing in front of a group of staff and students from the club, Mastroianni said he was "very pleased" with the endorsement and, addressing Buoniconti's proposal, added the Boys and Girls Club is already one of the youth agencies that works with the district attorney's office.
Mastroianni asserted that if he was elected his officehe "would go beyond assigning a D.A. to give lectures in classrooms." He noted that before the office can expand it activities into schools, it must first clear up the backlog of cases that exists.
He explained state law mandates the district attorney's office be involved with youth agencies and it is not a new idea to reach out to that part of the community.
At one point, Scott excused himself to take a phone call. He said he had been told there had been a drive-by shooting on Sergeant Street in Holyoke and Holyoke police officers had apprehended the alleged shooters and retrieved the guns used in the crime.
Scott said in an incident such as this one the district attorney would be on the phone to him explaining how the case is going to proceed.
"We only have one person in this race who can do this ... Mr. Mastroianni can do it. Mr. Buoniconti can't.
On Sept. 29, Buoniconti released a statement on what he would do to address drug addiction and drug crimes.
He wrote, "As District Attorney, I am committed to re-instituting the Hampden County Anti-Drug Coalition and dedicating staff and resources to help coordinate efforts at the federal, state, and local level. By coordinating efforts of law enforcement and human service organizations we can make targeted gains in combating drug trafficking, as well as provide resources for those facing addiction to help them get clean and lead healthy, law-abiding, and productive lives."
The coalition would include the Hampden County District Attorney, the Hampden County Sheriff, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of the Attorney General, Superintendents of Schools and School Committees and community and youth organizations.
Emphasizing his plan to work with schools, he added, "Additionally, recognizing that children entering grades five and six are too often overlooked by drug outreach programs, I intend to establish a free drug and alcohol resistance education summer program. The weeklong program, modeled off of a similar initiative implemented by District Attorney Timothy Cruz in Plymouth County, will be held in partnership with local drug enforcement officers, and surround children with positive role models to teach them important skills to resist alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs and violence."
He wrote there is an increase in the use of heroin and OxyContin in Hampden County and he would implement a "'Choose to Refuse" program to educate children about the damage these drugs do to their bodies and minds. The six-session program for high school students will rely on the theory of behavioral inoculation that people make better decisions when posed with persuasive or threatening arguments if they know the content of those arguments and have practiced resistance strategies beforehand."
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