Final Debates Set for Berkshire District Attorney Candidates

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The three district attorney candidates competing for the Democratic nomination in September's primary will meet at least three more times. 
 
Paul Caccaviello, Andrea Harrington and Judith Knight are vying for the nomination that will essentially determine the winner in the race since there is no other candidate on the general election ballot. 
 
Caccaviello was first assistant district attorney for 14 years until his predecessor, David Capeless, stepped down in March so Caccaviello could run as the incumbent. He has worked in the district attorney's office as a prosecutor for nearly three decades. 
 
Harrington is a civil and criminal defense attorney who has defended death row inmates in the state of Florida and is  now an attorney at Connor & Morneau LLP. She has been practicing law for more than 15 years and first ran unsuccessfully for state senator two years ago.
 
Knight worked as a prosecutor and a public defender before entering private practice in 2003. An attorney for more than 20 years, Knight ran against Capeless in 2006 with a campaign centered on overzealous prosecution of youth caught peddling marijuana but lost.
 
The upcoming forums and debates are:
 
• Tuesday, Aug. 14, at 6:30 p.m. at Becket Town Hall. Sponsored by the Becket Democratic Town Committee with state Sen. Adam Hinds as moderator. 
 
• Monday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m. at Berkshire Community College sponsored by the Pittsfield Gazette with former Pittsfield Mayor Sara Hathaway as moderator.
 
• Thursday, Aug. 23, 7 p.m. at Hevreh of Southern Berkshire, 270 State Road, Great Barrington, sponsored by Hevreh, Berkshires Interfaith Organizing, and Multicultural Bridge.
 
• Tuesday, Aug. 28, 1 p.m., Berkshire Theatre Group's Fitzpatrick Main Stage, 6 East St., Stockbridge, sponsored by BTG and WAMC/Northeast Public Radio. Moderated by WMAC's  President Alan Chartock, Berkshire Bureau Chief Josh Landes and News Director Ian Pickus. To reserve seats: 413-997-4444 or berkshiretheatregroup.org. It will be broadcast on live on WAMC, wamc.org and on Facebook.

Tags: candidate forum,   debate,   election 2018,   primary,   


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State Auditor DiZoglio Pushes for Beacon Hill Transparency

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

The state auditor called on voters to support Question 1 on the November ballot, which would bring most legislative and governor's office records under the public records law. 
DALTON, Mass. — Transparency is not a one-party issue, and democracy is also "under attack" here in Massachusetts, not just at the federal level, State Auditor Diana DiZoglio said during a presentation to the Dalton Democratic Town Committee.
 
More than a dozen people filled Nessacus Regional Middle School's auditorium Thursday as DiZoglio outlined her belief that power on Beacon Hill has become concentrated among a small number of House leaders, limiting legislative debate and creating what she described as a system of "rewards and punishment" to influence lawmakers.
 
"That system is really destroying democracy here in Massachusetts," she said.
 
The system was designed with a system of checks and balances, including giving the people a right to create laws at the ballot box, DiZoglio said.
 
"We have the right to vote for our elected representatives and senators to represent us and to be our voice at the state house. The people have constitutional rights in this commonwealth, but the people's rights are being ignored over and over and over again," she said
 
"This isn't about liberal, moderate, conservative. This is an everyone issue. That's why you see so many people coming out and supporting these transparency issues, regardless of party affiliation."
 
Since being elected in 2022, DiZoglio has been advocating for more transparency and accountability within the Legislature, specifically through the 2024 Question 1 ballot question which authorizes the state auditor to audit the Legislature.
 
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