| | | | |  | | By Kelly Garrity | Presented by Mass General Brigham | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: NORFOLK DA’S RACE TAKES SHAPE — As two high-profie cases roil the office, a longtime attorney with a history of prosecuting domestic violence crimes and representing survivors of sexual abuse is jumping into the race for Norfolk County District Attorney. Djuna Perkins, a former assistant district attorney in Suffolk County and past assistant attorney general, is running for the post currently held by embattled District Attorney Michael Morrissey. Morrissey has taken heat for his office’s role in two recent cases involving police: the much-watched case involving Karen Read, which ended in a mistrial (though a retrial is set to begin next year); and the more recently resurfaced case involving the death of Sandra Birchmore, which federal officials are now investigating as a murder after Norfolk officials ruled it a suicide in 2021 – despite determining that a Stoughton police officer whose text messages investigators say indicated had committed statutory rape against her was the last person to see her alive. The questions plaguing Morrissey’s office about its handling of the cases are what motivated Perkins, a Democrat, to throw her hat in the ring two years before the position will be on the ballot. “Like many observers, I've seen a pattern of missteps in the Norfolk County DA’s office that are extremely troubling to me,” Perkins told Playbook over the phone last night. “Two lives were lost, and neither family has closure. … The way these cases are handled is not the way I was trained to be a prosecutor at all.” Perkins, who also served as chief of the Suffolk County District Attorney's domestic violence unit, said she believes her decades of experience handling sensitive cases is what makes her a good fit for the role at a time when people have “lost faith in the current district attorney's ability to seek justice for them.” “For 10 years I was a prosecutor handling some of the most serious, awful crimes that can be imagined,” said Perkins, who has also given analysis on the recent cases that have thrust the DA’s office into the news. “And for the past 20 years, everything I've done has been advocating for people who are victims of crime, specifically sexual assault, sexual abuse, domestic violence, and trying to hold them accountable in various settings.” She’s not the only one eyeing the seat. Craig MacLellan, a former prosecutor in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office who also worked on the Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct, is also “exploring” a bid, the Boston Herald reported over the weekend — and he cited similar reasoning. Both recent cases “give rise to serious concerns relative to the objectivity and integrity of the investigative process, which is extremely damaging to the overall mission of the office,” MacLellan told the Herald. Whether Morrissey plans to run again is unclear — he didn’t respond to a voicemail left for him last night. But with a competitive field already forming, it could shape up to be a bruising reelection battle. There’s also a chance Morrissey steps down before then, as some political analysts have suggested he may do. That would give Gov. Maura Healey the opportunity to select his replacement, according to state law (an appointment that wouldn’t require approval from the Governor’s Council, according to the secretary of state’s office). When asked, Perkins declined to call for Morrissey to step down before his term is up. “I think that's really his own decision to make,” she said, but she added, “I think that I would offer a much better alternative, whenever it may be.” GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Tips? Scoops? Running for something? Email me: kgarrity@politico.com TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll are on El Mundo Boston at 8:30 a.m. and 8:10 a.m. respectively, and kick-off Massachusetts 250, a tourism initiative celebrating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, complete with Paul Revere and other historical reenactors at 11 a.m. at the State House; Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, state Auditor Diana DiZoglio and other state and local officials attend. Wu and Superintendent Mary Skipper will provide an update on school transportation at 8:30 a.m. in Dorchester. Attorney General Andrea Campbell is on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” at 11 a.m.
| | | | A message from Mass General Brigham: At Mass General Brigham, we harness the collective strength of our healthcare system to provide research-driven cancer care for the patients and communities we serve. Mass General Brigham is number one in hospital medical research. We perform the most cancer surgeries and have the most cancer specialists in New England. We have the region’s only proton therapy center and provide access to more than 1,000 clinical trials annually. We’re one against cancer. Learn more. | | | |  | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | — “Lawmaker feels 'sense of optimism' for strained shelter system from work-permit progress,” by Katie Lannan, GBH News. — “Community college faculty sound alarm on salaries,” by Alexa Lewis, Daily Hampshire Gazette. — “Teachers union blasts use of millionaires tax money,” by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: “A supplemental budget filed by Gov. Maura Healey aimed at closing out the previous fiscal year budget calls for spending $225 million in millionaires tax proceeds to cover costs for grants to child care programs, universal free school meals, transportation service expansions, and other items. But the Massachusetts Teachers Association, a chief proponent of the tax, is blasting the proposal to use the money this way, saying the funding needs should have been covered by other revenue sources.”
| | FROM THE HUB | | — “Boston Mayor Wu says remaining COVID relief funds to be spent on affordable housing, small business initiatives,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald. — “Whittier Street aims to close gaps for diagnosing developmental disabilities in kids of color,” by Paul Singer, GBH News: “For children with developmental disabilities, early diagnosis and intervention is critical for ensuring the best possible future as they grow up. This is the principle behind a new program launched this summer at Whittier Street Health Center in Roxbury, where a new clinician has been brought on board specifically to speed up the diagnoses of children with developmental disabilities — particularly low-income and children of color, who more often struggle to get these services.” — “Global toy brand mulls HQ move to Boston,” by Greg Ryan and Mary C. Serreze, Boston Business Journal.
| | BALLOT BATTLES | | — “Senate education chair says he’ll vote to scrap MCAS grad requirement,” by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Beacon: “Sen. Jason Lewis, who co-chairs the Joint Committee on Education, said he plans to vote for the ballot question that would end the requirement that all students pass the 10th grade test in English, math, and science before receiving a diploma. Lewis said he will file legislation in January to implement in its place a requirement that all students complete a state-established sequence of high school courses in order to graduate."
| | YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS | | PRESIDENTIAL PICK — Who does Republican Senate hopeful John Deaton plan to vote for if not former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris? “I haven’t thought that hard on it, but the first person’s name that comes to mind for me would be someone like Charlie Baker,” Deaton told CommonWealth Beacon’s Gintautas Dumcius. More from the interview. ENDORSEMENT ALERT — Fomer Gov. Charlie Baker and former Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito endorsed state Rep. Mathew Muratore in his bid for the open Plymouth and Barnstable state Senate seat, after the Repulican eked out win in a primary race that came down to a recount. Muratore's primary opponent, Kari MacRae, has pledged to challenge the outcome in court. But Muratore is already going on the offensive against his Democratic opponent, state Rep. Dylan Fernandes, who sailed through the primary without any opposition — and who has the support of Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. — “Yarmouth election to find temporary replacement for Michael Stone after August death,” by Heather McCarron, Cape Cod Times.
| | DAY IN COURT | | — “Massachusetts town that sued Northeastern University over land dispute loses lawsuit in appeals court,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald. — “Boston ICE agents arrest Salvadoran national charged with raping Nantucket child: ‘Detestable and disturbing crimes’,” by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: “Local ICE agents arrested a 28-year-old Salvadoran national who has been charged with raping a Nantucket child. ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston recently nabbed Bryan Daniel Aldana-Arevalo, who’s charged with numerous sex crimes against a child on Nantucket. … Aldana-Arevalo unlawfully entered the U.S. on an unknown date, at an unknown location, without having been inspected, admitted or paroled by a U.S. immigration official, according to ICE.”
| | | | A message from Mass General Brigham:   | | | | | MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS | | — “Demonstrators denounce Mass. five-day limit for migrant families in overflow shelters,” by Samantha J. Gross and Rachel Umansky-Castro, The Boston Globe.
| | ON CAMPUS | | — “Pittsfield police say they've arrested juveniles over possible online threats against city schools,” by Greg Sukiennik, The Berkshire Eagle. RELATED — “Students threaten school shooting in West Bridgewater ‘prank’; Waltham threat ‘non-credible’,” by Kiera McDonald, The Boston Globe. MORE — “Investigators find no credible threat from TikTok post that listed Attleboro school and a dozen others nationwide,” by David Linton, The Sun Chronicle.
| | IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN | | — “State climate chief hears from area farmers on putting climate-resilient methods into practice,” by Chris Larabee, Greenfield Recorder.
| | FROM THE 413 | | — “Two years on, Amherst police alternative CRESS still finding footing,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Even with limited calls for the Community Responders for Equity, Safety and Service, and the department losing half its staff in recent months, the director is confident that a base is being built for success.”
| | | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | | — “Nurses file complaints over 'horrific conditions' at Framingham Union Hospital,” by Marilyn Schairer, GBH News.
| | WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING | | — “‘He kept pushing’: State Police recruit who died spoke of hazing-like conditions, but persisted,” by Dan Glaun and Travis Andersen, The Boston Globe: “A close friend of Enrique Delgado-Garcia, the State Police recruit who died Friday after a training exercise, said that Delgado-Garcia described grueling, hazing-like conditions at the academy but had been determined to push through and accomplish his goal of joining the police ranks." RELATED — “Inquiry into death of recruit will not be handled by Worcester DA; conflict cited,” by Toni Caushi, Telegram & Gazette. — “Plymouth jail complaints reveal pattern of abuse against ICE detainees, report claims,” by Shannon Dooling, WBUR. — “Inspector General slams ‘sham’ and ‘failure’ at Star Store,” by Colin Hogan, The New Bedford Light.
| | MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE | | — “Candidates for N.H. governor seek broader support in shadow of presidential campaign,” by Steven Porter, The Boston Globe: “With just 50 days until the general election, Republican and Democratic candidates in New Hampshire who emerged victorious last week in their respective primaries are now looking to grow their bases of support. For former US senator Kelly Ayotte, the GOP nominee for governor, those efforts include outreach not only to independents but also to registered Democrats who might consider voting for her rather than former Manchester mayor Joyce Craig, their own party’s nominee.” — “Poll shows Ayotte with narrow lead over Craig in tight race for New Hampshire governor,” by Adam Sexton, WMUR.
| | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to MassDems Chair Steve Kerrigan, David Wade and JJ Klein.
| | | | A message from Mass General Brigham: At Mass General Brigham, we harness the collective strength of our healthcare system to provide research-driven cancer care for the patients and communities we serve. Mass General Brigham is number one in hospital medical research. We perform the most cancer surgeries and have the most cancer specialists in New England. We have the region’s only proton therapy center and provide access to more than 1,000 clinical trials annually.
The vision for Mass General Brigham is to build a world-class center of cancer care, with the patients at the center of everything we do. New collaborations, new treatments, and innovative approaches. Leading to new hope and possibilities. At Mass General Brigham, we’re one against cancer. Learn more. | | | Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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