In the upcoming Nov. 5 election, incumbent Democrat Paul DePalo and Republican challenger Andrew Couture are both running for the Seventh District seat on the Governor’s Council.
In Massachusetts, the eight-person Governor’s Council offers advice on gubernatorial appointments such as Industrial Accident Reviewing Board members, judges and Parole Board members as well as on pardons and state treasury warrants. Each member is elected from one district and holds a term of two years. District 7 encompasses 61 towns including Brimfield, Hardwick, Holland, Monson, Wales and Ware.
Within its election coverage, Reminder Publishing reached out to both candidates to provide the opportunity to share their priorities for the position if elected.
Paul DePalo
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
Seeking reelection for his third term, attorney Paul DePalo was first elected to the position of Governor’s Council seventh district in 2020. A former special education teacher, DePalo was drawn to the position on the Governor’s Council through his work in alternative public-school programming targeted toward students with social-emotional disabilities, he told Reminder Publishing.
“What I saw was how much judges mattered in the trajectory of our most vulnerable kids’ lives,” DePalo explained, noting that it was this interest that led him to first run for a seat on the Governor’s Council. In addition to his work in special education, DePalo served on the Worcester Planning Board for a five-year term until 2021. He was also previously recognized by legal aid program Community Legal Aid for his pro bono work in education law, DePalo said.
During his previous two terms on the Governor’s Council, DePalo worked to support the recruitment of judges with a trauma-informed approach, assisting with the appointment of Sarah Coughlin, a social worker, to the Parole Board. “In my opinion, social workers have a great sense of what kind of rehabilitation and reentry programs are available in the community that attorneys don’t necessarily have so I’m happy that there’s a social worker who is bringing their voice to the parole board,” DePalo said.
In addition to Coughlin, DePalo also supported the appointment of Rafael Ortiz, a Central Massachusetts resident, to the Parole Board and Jennifer Currie as a judge for Worcester Juvenile Court. He stated that he was proud to push for regional equity through these appointments, noting that he supported candidates based on who was best suited for the position, rather than for political reasons.
When asked why he was a good candidate, DePalo emphasized that he was “conscious to be present” and remain in tune with the needs of the district. If elected to another term, he highlighted “bringing back” clemency as a priority, stating that he previously supported pardons on past simple possession charges for cannabis.
Andrew Couture
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
Fitchburg resident and Ward 3 City Councilor Attorney Andrew Couture told Reminder Publishing that he is challenging DePalo “to make it possible for more than one set of ideas to be brought to the table when it comes to appointments in the judiciary.”
He highlighted the importance of a “balanced parole board” including people who have fulfilled different roles in the justice system, such as defense attorneys, retired judges and prosecutors.
Couture encouraged residents to view the judges appointed by the Governor’s Council in the eyes of a defendant, highlighting defendants’ constitutional rights, the future impacts and additional considerations for juveniles, and the importance of bipartisan representation within the state government.
“As a candidate that works as a ward councilor, I understand how important it is to connect with the people who are counting on you to change the status quo and counting on you to bring their voices to the table. I deeply believe that I can fulfill the responsibilities of this seat while representing more than just the one party that is now confirming all the appointments,” he stated, noting that all current members of the Governor’s Council support the Democratic Party.
Couture has served on the Fitchburg City Council for five years. If elected to the Governor’s Council, he stated that he would continue to serve on the Fitchburg City Council, noting that he has “a duty to my constituents in Ward 3 and I have spent the past five years building personal relationships with the people who count on me to represent them.”
He emphasized the importance of asking questions and starting conversations in order to create “real change,” stating that “elected officials should never bring their own agenda to the table, they need to be a voice for the people who want to see change.”
