Mark Rooney will bring common sense and professionalism to the Governor’s Council and will focus on reforms that will protect our communities from violent, repeat offenders and dealers of fentanyl and heroin. Rooney will also be an Independent voice on the Council, representing his constituents, not his own self-interest.
As Boston Herald Political Columnist Joe Battenfeld notes in his August 27, 2018 Column, there is a huge conflict of interest with six of the eight current Governor’s Councilors who are practicing Attorneys. In fact, Battenfeld notes, “Two Councilors prominently feature their elected position on their business websites.” One of the two Councilors Battenfeld is referring to is District Four Councilor Chris Iannella, who has been on the Council for 31 of the last 33 years.
Battenfeld points out, “Iannella has an entire web page devoted to his service on the Council” on his business website.
It makes you ask the question; Is he there to serve the voters and constituents in the Fourth District, or is he there to serve himself and his law practice?
The Boston Herald followed up yesterday, August 28, 2018, with an Editorial calling out the blatant conflict of interest, having Attorneys approving judges and clerk magistrates, and then appearing before them. The Editorial states, “The Scales of Justice are looking a little off-kilter here in Massachusetts, and the Governor’s Council is to blame…Astonishingly, six of the eight councilors are currently serving as attorneys, who may directly or indirectly have business in courtrooms in front of the judges they helped install. This obviously creates the potential for a massive conflict of interest and damages the perception of integrity in the judicial system.”
It is time we remove this Conflict of Interest and remove one more Attorney from the Governor’s Council.
Mark Rooney lives in South Boston, with his wife Theresa and their three children. He has volunteered and raised funds for many Community organizations, including close to 20 years as a youth hockey coach. Mark is a graduate St. Anselm College with a B.A. in Criminal Justice and attended the McCormack Graduate School of Policy at UMass Boston.
Vote for Mark Rooney for Governor’s Councilor in the Fourth District on Tuesday, September 4th.
