Springfield attorney announces run for Governor’s Council

Michael A. Fenton, a Springfield attorney and former Springfield City Council president, has announced his candidacy for the Massachusetts Governor’s Council District 8 seat, saying he hopes to bring his legal experience and stronger advocacy for western Massachusetts.

District 8 covers all of western Mass and includes 102 cities and towns across Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire counties. The Governor’s Council is an eight-member elected body that confirms the governor’s judicial appointments and appointments to statewide boards, including the Parole Board, Appellate Tax Board and Industrial Accident Board. The council also reviews pardons and commutations.

Fenton said the position combines the two areas where he has the most experience: law and public service.

“I think it’s a very important position that is often overlooked,” said Fenton, who will face off against incumbent Tara Jacobs in the Sept. 1 primary. “It’s a position that fits very well with my skill sets as a lawyer and a city councilor in Springfield for 17 years.”

Calling the Governor’s Council “a check on the governor’s power,” Fenton said the role also provides an opportunity to advocate for projects and funding throughout western Mass, because of the council’s connection to the governor’s office.

A major focus of his campaign is what he sees as a lack of representation for western Mass on statewide boards and commissions, including the Supreme Judicial Court, Parole Board and Appellate Tax Board.

“The Commonwealth has historically recognized the need to have regional diversity on these very important boards and commissions,” Fenton said. “For whatever reason, we’ve gotten away from that recently.”

Fenton said western Mass is often overlooked and underfunded compared to other parts of the state and that his experience in local government has prepared him to advocate for these communities.

Another issue Fenton pointed to was judicial vacancies and staffing shortages within the court system, which he said have caused delays, canceled hearings and other logistical issues in courts across the region.

“I think people are really concerned about this trend of judicial vacancies creating havoc in our court system,” Fenton said.

He pointed to cases where courts relied on retired judges or hearings could not be scheduled in time. Fenton said his experience practicing law and involvement in local bar associations would help him identify and evaluate qualified judicial candidates before vacancies become prolonged.

“We want judges who are the best and most ethical attorneys,” Fenton said. “We want a diverse judiciary that’s extremely capable and qualified, but also has the right temperament.”

Fenton emphasized the importance of building a strong working relationship with the governor and taking what he described as a proactive approach to appointments.

“That requires a proactive approach to this position and not simply reacting to appointments and thinking that the job is exclusively about critiquing and scrutinizing those appointments,” Fenton said.

He added that he would advocate for courthouse infrastructure projects throughout the region, including the replacement of the Hampden County Hall of Justice in Springfield, which he described as moving at a “glacial pace.”

Fenton, whose legal practice focuses on commercial real estate, business planning, commercial finance and estate planning, said his combined experience in law and local government distinguishes him from the other candidates in the race. According to his campaign announcement, he is also an adjunct professor at Western New England University School of Law and previously served five terms as Springfield City Council president.

“My first and top priority would be having a full pipeline of strong candidates for judicial appointment so that vacancies would not linger and cause havoc on the court system,” Fenton said.