SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Springfield attorney Jeffrey Morneau has declared a run for the 8th District seat on the Governor's Council. 

 

Morneau, a Democrat, took out nomination papers on March 1 following incumbent Mary Hurley's decision not to stand for re-election. Morneau had run against the former Springfield mayor in 2016, when she was first elected. 

 

He is a founding partner at Connor & Morneau, LLP, president of the Hampden County Bar Foundation and former president of the Hampden County Bar Association.

 

"Mary has been serving our community well as governor's councilor and she had earned the right to continue doing so if she so chose," he said.

 

Morneau believes that he is a perfect fit to be the next governor's councilor. In addition to his roles as Bar Foundation and Bar Association president, he served on the statewide Joint Bar Committee which is one of the last layers of review in the judicial nominating process and is charged with reporting to the governor on the qualifications of individuals under consideration for judicial nominations. Morneau has also served on the Board of Directors for Lawyers for Justice a non-profit entity dedicated to providing legal representation to the indigent.

 

"When we are talking about long-term appointments to the judiciary, it is critical that we get it right and my experience as a lawyer and with the judicial nominating process makes me uniquely qualified to serve as governor's councilor," he said. "I understand the importance of maintaining the integrity and transparency of the judicial selection process. I have helped to organize seminars and informational meeting for potential judicial applicants and participated in public testimony hearings for judicial nominees in western Massachusetts. 

 

"As governor's councilor, I will continue those proactive efforts so that judicial vacancies in Western Massachusetts are filled quickly with the most competent and qualified lawyers from local communities."

 

Morneau was born and raised in Holyoke and resides in East Longmeadow with his wife, Kate, an elementary school principal, and their two children. He earned his undergraduate degree from Providence College, his law degree from Western New England College School of Law, and a master of laws degree from Georgetown University.

 

So far Morneau is one of two Democrats who have announced for Governor's Council; North Adams School Committee member Tara Jacobs took out papers earlier this month. No Republicans have so far taken out papers.