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Attorney Timothy Shugrue takes out papers on Wednesday for Berkshire district attorney with his wife, Joann.

Two Challengers Emerge for Berkshire District Attorney

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Robert Sullivan launched his campaign late last year. 
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Well-known Pittsfield attorney Timothy J. Shugrue has entered the race for district attorney. 
 
Shugrue is the second candidate to announce a run against first-term incumbent Andrea Harrington; Robert Sullivan, of Lee, a former assistant DA, launched his campaign last year. 
 
Harrington hasn't formally announced but has been actively fundraising and has nearly $19,000 on hand. 
 
Shugrue took to social media to make his initial statement.
 
"Many of you know me as an attorney, husband, father and friend. I'm a trial lawyer with over 36 years of litigation courtroom experience in all of Western Massachusetts," he wrote.
 
Shugrue also is a former assistant district attorney, in Springfield, but has been in practice as a private attorney for 28 years.
 
He is a founder of the Berkshire County Children's Advocacy and Domestic Violence Center. 
 
"I enter this race to make Berkshire County a safe place for all the residents of our county.  I'm committed to providing experience, integrity and justice for all," he wrote.
 
Shugrue unsuccessfully ran against then District Attorney David Capeless in 2004. 
 
Sullivan announced his campaign late last year.
 
Originally from Boston, he graduated from New England Law in Boston. He moved to Berkshire County and was assistant district attorney under Capeless.
 
He now has his own practice in Central Berkshire.
 
Sullivan has been critical of Harrington in the past. According to his campaign website:
 
"Now my county needs a change. It needs a chief prosecutor that doesn't follow the trends of politics that reach far beyond our county, but rather focuses on the needs of the residents of Berkshire County. It needs a chief law enforcement officer who puts community safety and accountability over the false rhetoric of a certain political caucus or movement."
 
Harrington defeated Capeless' first assistant, Paul Caccaviello, who held the position in the interim when Capeless stepped down in 2018.
 
The election is in November.

Tags: district attorney,   election 2022,   


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Dalton Committee Seeks Funding for Invasive Species

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Open Space and Recreation Committee discussed addressing the invasive species at the Pines trailhead during its meeting last week. 
 
There will possibly be a money article on the annual town warrant requesting voters allocate $20,000  from free cash so that the committee can apply for a Community Forest Stewardship program grant. The Select Board placed it on the annual town meeting warrant on Monday. 
 
During a walkthrough of the Pines, Jess Toro, co-owner of Native Habitat Restoration, urged the committee to apply for the program.
 
According to Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson, although the grant would be reimbursed, the town needs to allocate the amount the committee is requesting in order to apply. 
 
If approved, the first phase would be to hire a consultant and focus on cutting and painting large invasives and vines in the 17 acres, staying out of any wetlands and wetland buffers. 
 
The committee has been thinking about how to address invasive species at the Pines since the start of the project and this year will be taking its first step into the long process of invasive species management. 
 
However, finding a professional to help with invasive species has been difficult due to the limited number of experts in the field, said the committee.
 
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