Fenton: Governor's Council Must Deliver for the Berkshires
I am a Springfield lawyer running for Governor's Council and I am asking for Berkshire County residents to support me over an incumbent from North Adams.
Here's why: Last year I learned about staffing issues in our regional courts that I could not ignore. In 2025, it was reported that four of Western Massachusetts' 11 Superior Court judgeships were vacant, all at the same time. A few weeks later, that grew to five vacancies. This meant there were only six Superior Court judges serving all of Western Mass at a time when Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden counties had more than 100 pending homicide cases.
Those numbers were alarming to me, so I started to engage with leaders in the community who work most closely with the court system and I came to learn that these vacancies were only the tip of the iceberg here in Berkshire County.
I learned that no Superior Court or District Court judge had been appointed from the Berkshires since the current incumbent took office. As a result, there is not a single Superior Court judge who lives in the Berkshires today, and several of the District Court judges drive in from other counties to support Berkshire courts in Pittsfield, Great Barrington, and North Adams. Court staff also informed me about severe staffing shortages at the Berkshire Clerk of Courts office resulting in other counties needing to loan staff to the Berkshires just so hardworking employees can take a brief and planned summer vacation. This is not normal. These issues are a reflection of genuine problems with the Berkshire County court system and show a lack of proactive attention from our Governor's Councilor.
Instead of focusing on regional equity, I watched as the current incumbent celebrated that she has voted against the governor's nominees more than any other councilor, without much explanation as to why. Most recently, she voted against two extremely qualified former prosecutors for the Parole Board. This was despite an in-person plea from the governor and a letter of support from all the three of the district attorney's from Western Mass. Those votes do not show independence or standing up for principles, they demonstrate naivete, and an unwillingness to work with the key stakeholders.
I had seen and heard enough. I decided to jump in the race and challenge the incumbent to address these problems head-on.
I am a partner of a regional law firm. I understand our courts and the importance of having qualified, fair and hardworking judges. And I know how important it is to have judges from the Berkshires serving the Berkshires. To achieve that, you need strong relationships with the legal community and local stakeholders. You need to know how to use the power of the Governor's Council to fight forcefully for our region. And you need to be laser focused on identifying vacancies before they occur so that they can be filled quickly with local candidates.
I have served as a city councilor representing my working-class Springfield neighborhood for the last 16 years. I know how to build diverse coalitions with local and state leaders and will bring that approach to the Governor's Council.
Many Berkshire County leaders have broken ranks with the incumbent and supported my campaign. DA Tim Shugrue, Sheriff Tom Bowler, and Clerk of Courts Lisa Denault-Viale have all endorsed me, despite the incumbent being from the Berkshires. Why? These leaders know the Berkshire courts better than anyone and they have reached the difficult conclusion that the incumbent is not doing the job for Berkshire County. This is not a decision they came to lightly. Frankly, I was surprised to be able to earn their support. But like me, they have seen enough. At a recent press conference, Shugrue, Bowler, and Denault-Viale were each asked directly whether they had ever received a phone call from the incumbent about the issues facing Berkshire courts.
All three said no. Doesn't that say it all?
The incumbent will tell you to vote for her because she is from the Berkshires and because I am from Springfield, as if that is some sort of stain I should be ashamed of. I ask you to consider the results she has delivered for Berkshire County and the support I have earned from your sheriff, DA, and clerk of courts. If we allow county borders or regional rivalries to define Western Mass justice, we don't stand a chance at gaining the attention and support we deserve from Boston.
The incumbent is a nice person and she fights for worthy causes, but she is unqualified for this job and has failed to be a proactive Councilor addressing the needs of Berkshire County courts. I have a record of honest government service and a legal background that qualify me to make the changes that the Berkshires need and deserve. So yes, I am asking you to vote for a lawyer from Springfield over an activist from North Adams.
I humbly request that you consider my candidacy. I won't let you down.
Michael Fenton is partner at the regional law firm of Shatz, Schwartz, and Fentin, P.C. and a member of the Springfield City Council representing Ward 2. He is running for Governor's Council in District 8.
Tags: campaign statements, election 2026,
