Gov's Council Candidate Bumiller: "Don't Be Fooled!"
Back in February, when I entered the open-seat race for Governor's Council, my campaign announcement talked about my own experience for this position. Since then, I have met many thousands of people and have spoken about how experience really does count to effectively serve on the Governor's Council.
Here's why. In Massachusetts, the Governor's Council plays an important constitutional role. The Governor's power is limited to nominating candidates to become judges and parole board members. It is the job of the Governor's Council to finalize the selection process by either approving or rejecting each nomination. To serve effectively on the Governor's Council, it only makes sense that knowledge of the courts, knowledge of the judiciary and knowledge of the trial system are important qualifications for the job.
After six months of campaigning, it has become obvious that I am not only the hardest-working candidate but also the best qualified. In this election, I am not merely "Running to Win," I am running to serve. Since my opponents don't have the knowledge or the temperment necessary to serve effectively, they have tried to shift the focus away from qualifications. One opponent has, to my knowledge, never once stepped inside a courtroom. She has made numerous different career attempts, not one of which has anything to do with the judicial system. She may be pleasant and well-spoken, but simply needing a job is not a qualification for any office. Don't be fooled, for this position, qualifications really do matter.
Another opponent has shown himself to be nothing more than a protest candidate. When he doesn't rant and rave against Mary-Ellen Manning, the current Governor's Councilor who is stepping down to seek a state Senate seat, he rants and raves against the Governor's Council itself. And it seems that the more he speaks the more he alienates people.
So as this race draws to its conclusion, DON'T BE FOOLED. Our system of checks and balances depends on a well-informed, respectful and independent-minded Governor's Council. Among the candidates, I have the right qualifications, the experience, knowledge and temperment.
For these reasons, on Thursday, Sept. 6, I respectfully ask for your vote.
Cool Fusion
9:08 am on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Pray for us. Neither candidate is even close to being worthy of our vote. A choice between rancid cheese and shower scum. Politics has become so degenerate that decent citizens don't even want to join and engage in leadership roles.
Bonnie-Jean
11:25 am on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Vote Bumiller September 6!!!
RunningGreen
11:36 am on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Look at some of the comments on Ms. Duff's blog posts. People who claim to support you are arguing that the major issue of the race isn't experience or qualifications, but rather gay marriage. What is your opinion on this issue, and do you believe members of the Governor's Council have the right to pick judges based on their own personal political stances?
Donald R. Bumiller
1:51 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Running Green:
The only comments I endorse are my own. As to your second point, I see the governor's council's work is largely non-partisan. Judicial nominees should be evaluated on their own qualifications, not their party affiliations. Thank you.
Bonnie-Jean
5:58 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Judges should be chosen based on their ability to be fair, impartial and be the most qualified. Having an experienced trial attorney on the Governor's Council is crucial because you need someone who has experience in a legal setting. If you needed a lawyer, would you pick someone who went to law school or who watched every episode of "The Practice"? Same thing applies to the Governor's Council!
RunningGreen
6:11 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
True. The reason why I asked was because based on the comments I read on that blog post I mentioned, Mr. Bumiller was adamantly opposed to gay marriage and would judge judicial appointments with that in mind. I just wanted to hear straight from him to make sure that wasn't the case. Thanks for the clarification.
Bonnie-Jean
7:28 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
May I ask where you saw the blog? You have my interest peeked!
Cool Fusion
10:50 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
If Donald R. Bumiller is non-partisan .. then why is he campaigning as a democrat? He could choose to be unaffiliated or an independent, but he chose Democrat. There should be no question as to the which party our future judges will arise from.. when they are selectd by the legicritters that control the power of the General Court and nomimated by the Governors office and to be endorsed by a democrat partisan. Why is the blindfolded lady holding the scales of justice crying?
RunningGreen
6:31 am on Friday, August 10, 2012
That has been the case throughout U.S. history, though. At the federal level, the President can make Supreme Court nominations that favor his political leaning. There has always been politics behind the court system.