DISTRICT 7 CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS
DEMOCRAT
ANNOUNCEMENT
Paul DePalo has been endorsed by Central MA AFL-CIO for Governor's Council District 7
Governor's Council approves or rejects potential state judges and Parole Board & Industrial Accident Board members.
Paul’s an attorney, Worcester Planning Board member, father of two, and former special education teacher who developed and taught in public school programming for at-risk teens. He’s been recognized for his pro bono legal work.
In 2018, Paul challenged a 4-term Republican incumbent and earned 48% of the vote (146,422 votes) as the Democratic nominee.
WHY I'M RUNNING:
CATCH KIDS BEFORE THEY LAND IN CYCLES OF INCARCERATION
Kids dealing with trauma, abuse, and lack of stability are most likely to be referred to our courts. Once there, consequences for typical teenage behavior escalate until their education and social life are so interrupted that they're likely to be incarcerated as adults (and we pay $60,000 per year to lock them up). It's a moral and economic failure: I'll fight for a justice system that puts kids on a path of opportunity, not of incarceration.
COMMON SENSE APPROACHES TO
MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION
Public safety starts with keeping violent criminals out of our communities, period. And, we need to get serious about the mental health and addiction crises in our schools, courts, and prisons. Yet, Massachusetts has been steadily removing mental health experts from the Parole Board. As Councilor, my vote will lead to the re-institution of mental health expertise on the Parole Board.
We risk public safety, damage families, and create challenges for law enforcement and corrections officers when we release prisoners worse off than when they entered the system.
Let's better utilize life- and money-saving diversion and treatment programs when appropriate. This reduces crime and saves taxpayer dollars (we spend close to $60,000 per year to lock someone up).
CIVILITY & PROTECTION OF BASIC RIGHTS
Democracy is about working together to reach consensus: choosing judges with the right temperament, experience, and expertise is a non-partisan task. We can’t let the theatrics of Washington’s judicial appointment process infect Massachusetts.
Civility also means securing individual liberties, and with our federal courts being filled with young, idealogical, lifetime appointed judges, I'll insist on Massachusetts judges who will protect women's rights, workers' rights, and civil liberties for everyone in our inclusive, diverse Commonwealth. We also need more women and people of color on the bench, and to address the racial disparities in our justice system. Massachusetts can and should continue to lead the way in expanding individual liberties and equity under the law for all.
ABOUT GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL
Governor's Council consists of 8 Councilors and the Lieutenant Governor, who serves ex officio. The Council’s work includes approving or rejecting the Governor’s judicial, parole board, and industrial accident board nominees. Each Councilor is elected from a district comprised of 5 state senate districts. District 7 contains 65 communities in Central Massachusetts. Councillors serve 2-year terms; the Democratic Primary is September 1, 2020.
District 7 covers towns represented by Senators Chandler, Moore, Gobi, Tran & Fattmann.
ABOUT PAUL DEPALO
Paul’s an attorney, Worcester Planning Board member, father of two, and former special education teacher who developed and taught in public school programming for at-risk teens. He’s been recognized for his pro bono legal work.
In 2018, Paul challenged a 4-term Republican incumbent and earned 48% of the vote (146,422 votes) as the Democratic nominee.
Wesleyan University, BA
Northeastern University, JD
Fitchburg State University, MEd
Paul's career has included high-stakes litigation representing international companies in state and federal courts at a Boston firm, pro bono work in education law, and a solo law practice. In law school, Paul clerked for the Suffolk County District Attorney Child Abuse and Appellate Units, EMC Corp., and a Federal Magistrate Judge. As an educator, Paul taught in a variety of general and special education public school settings and was a Principal Resident in Boston Public Schools.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Jan 18, 2020
Paul DePalo Demonstrates Strong Central MA Support at January 17 Kickoff Event
Paul DePalo for Governor's Council campaign held a well-attended kickoff event at Greater Good Imperial Brewing, with guest from all corners of Central Massachusetts.
DePalo, the 2018 Democratic nominee for this seat, has broad-based Democratic support for the September 1, 2020 Democratic primary, including numerous elected officials who were in attendance.