Letter: Judith Knight Best Fit for District Attorney

Letter to the Editor03:00PM / Monday, August 27, 2018Print Story | Email Story

To the Editor:

Andrea Harrington has spunk. But spunk is not enough for the job of district attorney. Ms. Harrington is entering the fray for the Democratic DA nomination with limited knowledge and experience of the workings of the office. This was evident in some of her debate responses, especially those dealing with our county court system. Sliding into the DA position is not the time for on-the-job training.

In her quest for the state Senate seat in 2016, she failed to fully comply with campaign finance law. While the violations were relatively minor for the first-time candidate, and remedial action was taken, she referred to the episode as a learning experience.

In commenting on the report citing her financing missteps, issued in November 2017, she said she had no immediate plans to run for office again and was interested in helping other women run for political office. If only ...

Paul Caccaviello, the anointed candidate of the outgoing (really? — see below) DA [David] Capeless and Republican Gov. Baker, has perhaps too much experience, of the wrong kind.

His reluctant acceptance of the Justice Reform Act of 2018 may be another landmark on his march back to the future.

DA Capeless in his resignation announcement stated he "... will stick around and be appointed as a special assistant DA ... ." To complete still open cases? Or will he hold on to the reins of power as the éminence grise behind Caccaviello?

Judith Knight with her challenge to DA Capeless in 2006, earlier successful defense of marijuana sting victim and then Otis resident Kyle Sawin in 2005, other pro-bono work for those in need, and her performance in this year's debates has convinced me that she, and her curriculum vitae (and spunk), would be the best fit for a new and improved office of the district attorney.

Ms. Knight, during her 30-plus years as an attorney, has served as an assistant DA and a public defender/defense attorney demonstrating her knowledge of the Massachusetts court and legal system. Her proven enterprise management and certified mediation skills will also prove invaluable.

Judith's enthusiastic support for a diversion (second chance) program and the positive use of some drug forfeiture funds (for community centers, eg) is something I, my family and my neighbors support.

In the apocryphal words of Cary Grant it's got to be "Judy, Judy, Judy."

Frank Tolopko
Otis, Mass.

Tags: election 2018, letters to the editor,

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Rename

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to rename the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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