Speranzo Appointed Central Berkshire Clerk-Magistrate

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
06:48PM / Wednesday, July 06, 2011Print Story | Email Story

Rep. Christopher Speranzo

BOSTON — State Rep. Christopher Speranzo, D-Pittsfield, was appointed Wednesday as the new clerk-magistrate at Central Berkshire District Court.

Speranzo landed the lifetime position by a split vote on the Governor's Council, 5 -4, with Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray casting the tie-breaking vote. He was the only Western Massachusetts candidate being considered for the position.

His recent nomination by Gov. Deval Patrick upset many city residents after he refused to discuss applying for the position last year. He was highly criticized for running for re-election at the same time as applying for the position that has been vacant for the last two years — reminding city residents of his predecessor, former Rep. Peter Larkin, who also applied for jobs during an election year and left the seat days after being sworn in.

Critics, including members of the Governor's Council, cited a lack of experience as reasons he should not be appointed to the clerk-magistrate position. He was an assistant attorney general in Springfield as well as a city solicitor for Pittsfield. He earned his bachelor's degree from Boston College and his master's degree from the University of Cambridge in 1998. He earned his law degree from Boston College Law School in 2001.

"Christopher Speranzo is an experienced attorney who will serve the region well as clerk-magistrate of the Pittsfield District Court. Throughout the process, Mr. Speranzo received a broad range of support from a judge and other members of the legal community in support of his strong character and qualifications," said the governor's Deputy Press Secretary Alec Loftus on Wednesday afternoon. "We are confident that his abilities and experience in the legal system will serve him and the Pittsfield District Court well."

The appointment leaves holes in a few important State House committees. This year, Speranzo held spots on the Ways and Means Committee, the Health Care Financing Committee and the special Joint Committee on Redistricting.

Speranzo won the 3rd Berkshire District seat in the state House of Representatives in a special election in 2005 - filling the spot vacated by Larkin, who quit to take a private-sector job just six days after being sworn in.

His departure is expected to force a special election for his successor, although the city will reportedly seek permission to delay the vote until the November municipal election.

Already, Ward 2 City Councilor Peter White, a Democrat, and Green-Rainbow Party's Mark Miller, who reeled in 45 percent of the vote last year running against Speranzo, have thrown their hats into the ring.

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I have never seen a more bold example of political patronage and manipulation. I don't believe I've ever been as disgusted or replused by a politician as I am this "gentleman"; and I use the term loosely. For how he played the system, this joke should be run out of town on a rail. If this goes on all the time, then there is NO HOPE for our political system.
from: Disgusted	on: 07-07-2011 06:25AM I Agree (28) - I Disagree (4)

There is a whole lotta stink surrounding this appointment. Governor's Councillor Tom Merrigan seems to be running a pay-to-play operation where he solicits campaign cash from folks who want to be named and supported for judicial nominations. Then there is Gov. Patrick who campaigned in 2006 on a reform platform. Now he and his minions are jamming these politically-wired picks through the Governor's Council which a former member once called a "glorified hock shop." Speranzo did not come clean on his plans to leave the House leaving a Larkin-esque mess that now has to be picked up. The wheels of the hack-a-rama keep spinning quite nicely in our fair Commonwealth.
from: Smell Test Failure	on: 07-07-2011 07:41AM I Agree (13) - I Disagree (3)
Editor: "Pay to play?" You've got proof on that? Considering the fact Merrigan is one of 8 and the council doesn't meet all that much, anyone "paying" for anything wouldn't get much.
I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

I'm sorry that Mr. Speranzo can not even step forward to answer questions prior to his appointment. This is a life time job paid with our tax dollars. Shame on him!
from: wow	on: 07-07-2011 10:19AM I Agree (15) - I Disagree (1)

Anyone concerned about a LIFETIME appointment.....seems fishy
from: Seven	on: 07-07-2011 12:16PM I Agree (7) - I Disagree (1)

Speranzo donated $100 on 3/16/06 to Merrigan as per the Office of Campaign & Political Finance. This is legal but it does not pass the smell test. Governor's councillors should not be taking campaign cash from politicians and those who apply to be judges and clerk magistrates and then turning around and pushing for these nominees and then voting for them. That is why we need to abolish the Governor's Council as Senate President Terry Murray has proposed. Only MA and NH have a Governor's Council, the 48 other states DON'T.
from: Smell Test Failure	on: 07-07-2011 02:03PM I Agree (12) - I Disagree (5)

Certainly some interesting questions raised here about conflicts of interest: http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wamc/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1824449/WAMC.New.England.News/Massachusetts.Rep..Christopher.Speranzo%27s.appointment.to.magistrate.position.rekindles.controversy Lovely how Murray and Patrick are willing to postpone the vote -- even though they had quorum last week, but No Show would have lost the vote -- but this time when they have the votes they are not so interested in finding out more about claims of "irregularities". When you're talking LIFETIME appointment to a high paying public job, you better be damn sure you've got the public interest at heart. What a sick joke Murray and Patrick are. DEMocracy in this state. It ain't what it sounds like!
from: CONflict of interest	on: 07-08-2011 01:02AM I Agree (4) - I Disagree (1)

Dalton Officials Talk Meters Amidst Rate Increases

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:44AM / Tuesday, February 03, 2026

DALTON, Mass. — The anticipated rise in the water and sewer rates has sparked discussion on whether implementing meters could help mitigate the costs for residents

The single-family water rate has been $160 since 2011, however, because of the need to improve the town's water main infrastructure, prices are anticipated to increase.

"The infrastructure in town is aged … we have a bunch of old mains in town that need to be changed out," said Water Superintendent Robert Benlien during a joint meeting with the Select Board.

The district had contracted Tighe and Bond to conduct an asset management study in 2022, where it was recommended that the district increase its water rates by 5 percent a year over five years, he said.

This should raise enough funds to take on the needed infrastructure projects, Benlien said, cautioning that the projections are a few years old so the cost estimates have increased since then.

"The AC mains, which were put in the '60s and '70s, have just about reached the end of their life expectancy. We've had a lot of problems down in Greenridge Park," which had an anticipated $4 million price tag, he said.

The main on Main Street, that goes from the Pittsfield/town line to North Street, and up through woods to the tank, was priced at $7.6 million in 2022, he said.

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