Two Challengers Emerge for Berkshire District Attorney
Robert Sullivan launched his campaign late last year.
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,
