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Date: 1/4/2022
SPRINGFIELD ¬ Former City Council candidate Jynai McDonald is currently considering a campaign to challenge state Rep. Bud Williams, while continuing her effort to scrutinize last year’s City Council race.
McDonald made the announcement last week and told Reminder Publishing she is still in discussions concerning that decision.
McDonald has been contesting the activities of incumbent City Councilor Malo Brown during the last election and received a letter from the Office of Campaign & Political Finance (OCPF). William Campbell, the director of the office, wrote McDonald about the decisions made on several of her concerns. Brown is a staff member for Williams.
The investigation by OCPF found that Brown did not violate the rules concerning the use of public resources with the distribution of campaign postcards tr the Safe Summer Kickoff Series nor were the radio ads used to publicize the series a violation.
Brown did agree, however, to contribute $1,000 to the charity of his choice as a fine for posting a fundraising post on his personal Facebook page. Brown is a public employee and by law cannot directly or indirectly receive contributions for a candidate, including himself.
McDonald said her efforts to investigate Brown’s activities will not cease and noted the Office of Attorney General is still looking into her allegations. She said the investigation is “far from over” and that the Ethics Committee has contacted her.
She said that Williams “needs a formidable candidate” and has said she will decide by Jan. 17.
Williams, if he decides to run for re-election, would be on the ballot later this year.
In a written statement, McDonald said, “The egregious behavior displayed by Representative Williams’ Chief of Staff, which led to me contesting the November election, is an indictment on the representative’s ability to lead during these difficult times. The enabling of this behavior by Representative Williams has no place in politics and is a detriment to 11th Hampden District. We are in desperate need of bold leadership with innovative ideas that benefit the entire district and under the current leadership there is an obvious void.”
McDonald is a graduate of Bay Path University and works as the Family Child Care Coordinator for SEIU Local 509. The bargaining unit she leads consists of approximately 2, 400 childcare providers throughout Massachusetts.