Letter: Support Tara Jacobs for Governor's CouncilLetter to the Editor,
05:00PM / Tuesday, November 01, 2022 | |
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To the Editor:
I watched the recent District 8 Governor's Council debate held by NEPM and other Western Massachusetts media outlets. The dialogue between Democrat Tara Jacobs and her Republican opponent laid out stark contrasts, and a difference in vision beyond simple party affiliation. To summarize:
Tara: Find the best people for our judiciary and encourage them to apply for positions.
Opponent: Just vote on who is presented. The Governor's Council is not an employment agency.
Tara: Work with the executive, legislative, and judiciary to advocate for equity, justice, and other important issues in our district.
Opponent: Why reinvent the wheel? It's been around for 4 billion years.
Tara: Work with community leaders, judicial advocacy groups, and the legal community to get a full picture of a nominee's history, impact on the community, and fitness for a specific position.
Opponent: Forego the opinion of informed and knowledgeable people and just use "common sense" because "experts" have caused inflation.
Tara: Use bail, pardons, and commutations as tools to serve justice and help worthy people succeed.
Opponent: If you are convicted, or even accused, of a crime, you shouldn't have put yourself in that position to begin with.
Tara: Running for Governor's Council as a next step to advocate for justice and equity after more than 15 years serving her community.
Opponent: Running for Governor's Council because of a misguided grievance against a a judge he thinks violated their oath of office, even though he can't articulate exactly how, or even what that oath is (hint: check the state constitution, Chapter 6, Article 1). Perhaps using only "common sense" instead of actual informed opinion, doesn't always lead one to make the best decisions.
The choice here is clear. Tara has ability, intentions, and integrity to work with both government and community stakeholders to help make Western Massachusetts a better, safer, and more just place to live, work, and visit. The honorable sheriffs of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties all agree that Tara is the better choice and have endorsed her candidacy, and I do as well.
So I encourage you to vote on Nov. 8 for Tara Jacobs under the heading of "Councillor, Eighth District."
Thomas Bernard
North Adams, Mass.
Bernard is a former mayor of the city of North Adams.
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