PALMER — Republican John Comerford of Palmer has announced that he has qualified for the November ballot as the Republican nominee for Governor’s Council. The former veterans agent has no opposition in the September GOP primary.
Comerford told the Athol Daily News, “Two years ago or more, I discovered the (then) incumbent apparently had no opposition. To be honest with you, I don’t think anyone should run unopposed. It bothers me when somebody is essentially given a free ride.”
But, while he may in fact breeze through the Republican primary with no opponent, it turns out Comerford will definitely have an opponent in November. He will face one of three Democrats currently seeking their party’s nomination. Shortly after incumbent Mary Hurley announced her intentions to step down on March 2, Springfield attorney Michael Fenton, lawyer Jeffrey Morneau of East Longmeadow, and North Adams School Committee member Tara Jacobs.
“So, I said, ‘When the time comes, I’m going to run for Governor’s Council. I pretty much know the basics of the job. To this day, I know an awful lot of people don’t even know it exists. You say, ‘Governor’s Council’ and they say, ‘What’s that?’”
Comerford explained that the main duty of Governor’s Councilor is consideration of, along with voting to support or oppose, judicial appointments made by the Governor.
“I want to make certain,” he continued, “that whoever the Governor sends over as a nominee for the bench has been well vetted. I want to make certain the person looking to become a judge is well-suited to the position.”
Comerford said he was disturbed by the case of a Newton judge accused of aiding the escape of an illegal immigrant from her courtroom before Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents could arrive on the scene. In March, the federal First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the trial of now-suspended Judge Shelly Joseph on three obstruction of justice-related charges and one charge of obstructing a federal proceeding could move forward.
“She had an oath of office that she took,” said Comerford. “She should have stood by her oath. That prompted me to do this.”
Although running as a Republican, the 77-year-old Comerford said he would not look at judicial appointees through a partisan lens.
“It’s not a partisan decision once I’m on the Council,” he explained. “I’m not going to say, ‘You’re a Democrat, I’m not going to vote for you.’ I’m not going to say, “Because you’re a Republican, you’ve got my vote just for walking through the door.’ It’s not going to happen.
“Yes, I’m a Republican but I also know the difference between being impartial and being in somebody’s corner. If somebody came through the door who I knew, I would walk away from the vote — I would recuse myself. Once you’re a member, you have to be impartial, just like a judge has to be impartial.”
Comerford, who has no GOP primary opponent, announced in a recent release that he has qualified for the November ballot.
Comerford, who is 77, has been wed to his wife Mary for 54 years. The couple have four “great kids,” all grown and on their own, as well as five “wonderful” grandchildren.
Comerford was born and raised in Dorchester and has lived in Palmer for 20 years.
He served in the U.S. Air Force during Vietnam, and later worked as a fraud investigator with this state’s welfare fraud bureau and the office of Attorney General. He is the former Veterans Service Officer for Eastern Hampden County where, for 12 years, he assisted veterans and veterans’ families.
The 8th district stretches across western Massachusetts, from Royalston to Mount Washington, and from Hampden to Williamstown.
Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com