See: http://www.enterprisenews.com/…
Apparently, the Clerk of Courts died on March 28, 2008; I don’t believe the funeral has been held yet.
Senator Robert Creedon is the Senate chairman of the Joint Judiciary Committee – a major position. If he is indeed resigning, then the chairmanships in the Senate will be reassigned.
It should be noted that as Clerk of Courts – no more commute to Boston, and a raise of at least $40,000.00 and I think, more than that.
Senator Creedon has been a supporter of access to justice, and someone who understood the right to counsel and how courts work. If he is to be replaced, I hope his replacement also is well-versed in the Sixth Amendment right to counsel – and views the judicial branch as a BRANCH of government, not an uppity agency to be managed firmly.
He uses comon sense. That clerk of courts job is probably not what you think it is. It is an elected position. The clerk of the superior court. It is make believe. There is essentially zero reponsibility. I have no idea what a bright and effective legislator like Bob Creedon wants with a job like this unless he just wants to retire with pay. The office of the clerk of courts in Plymouth County used to be in a cuby hole down at Plymouth District Court. Now they have a new court house adjacent to Jordan Hospital to hide in. It really is a loss for the senate. Creedon really was an astute and effective legislative leader that let common sense prevail. Oh well.
Finally, some good news on the retirement front! Creedon is among the most self-entitled, self-important paper-shufflers in the Massachusetts Legislature, and good riddance to him. Creedon used to be my state senator, and I asked him five separate times to explain his opposition to marriage equality; I received five different explanations. It’s not too often that one hears “I don’t care” from the mouth of a state senator, but I often heard those words when I’d mention constituents and colleagues who disliked his brusque, huaghty manner.
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p>Creedon was ignorant of many issues affecting his Brockton constituents, and his understanding of education could fit on one side of a square of toilet paper. In 2006, his Republican opponent was consistently to the left of Creedon (though it turns out he laundered drug money…
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p>Just when I was thinking there was nobody I could back with enthusiasm this cycle, it’s good to see this news. Representative Thomas Kennedy of Brockton, who merits the D after his name, is a likely candidate for the seat, and a better improvement I cannot imagine. He gets it on education, he gets it on casinos, he understands affordable housing, and he gets it on marriage equality. I’ll hold the cheerleading until after Kennedy declares, but this is a good day for the people of Brockton (and a sad day for the Republicans of Massachusetts — see above).
The charges were dismissed for lack of evidence in Federal court.
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p>Not a nice as a ‘not guilty’ verdict, and obviously not reported by the glob, which had headlines for the charges.
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p>And I would agree – he WAS to the left of Creedon; but that wouldn’t mattter to a progressive, would it?
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p>BTW – any word on Mrs./Rep. Creedon? Will they cease to be the only serving legislators who are also married to one another? I ALWAYS thought that was a little strange, but he, Brockton be Brockton.
I don’t recall saying which way I voted in that one.
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p>I’m glad he wasn’t guilty. It is tricky when one specializes in defending those accused of money laundering to stay on the right side of the law.
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p>I’ve heard nothing about M Creedon. She may run for the seat, but I’m thinking she won’t.
Thomas Kennedy is one of the best legislators we have, Sabutai. Good pick – if he runs. He is an honest, hard working compassionate man – but I don’t know where he is at with his health challenges.
I hear that Connor Yunits will run to replace Rep. Kennedy. I worked with Connor at the State House and we attended the same master’s program. He is a loyal democrat and loves the City of Champions. Connor had an uncanny ability to be the smartest person in the room without having to let everyone know that he was. More importantly he was able to lift our spirits and make us believe we could complete our master’s program together as a group. Connor is one of the Bluest guys I know and I wish him the best.
Nowak wanted to get paid and the only assets that his client had was the proceeds from ill gotten gains. Nowak was picked up on a call to his client (PRIVILEGED) duscussing a means to transfer the money to Nowak. The case was obviously thrown out due to the fact that the cops were listening in and taping a privileged conversation. Which does not mitigate Nowak’s rather unsavory, and unethical behavior.
Plymouth County Clerk of Courts Frank Power was the dean of the elected clerks and was a dedicated public servant. The elected clerks bring as sense of responsiveness to an otherwise un-responsive bureaucracy.
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p>It is easy for some to dismiss positions like this as ‘old chestnuts,’ but having gubernatorially appointed court clerk/magistrate just ensures that the governor and legislature get to feather their nests.
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p>Farewell to an honorable and descant human being. We would be so fortunate to have many more like him in service to the public!
I spoke with him at the last candidates night that he spoke at in my community. He assured everyone that he was not too old and would live out the term. God bless him.
Everyone I know in Brockton and who serves the courts or practices law had only good things to say about Franny Powers. To me that said – and says – a lot. The clerk has a lot to do with how a court – the whole county – functions – tone as well as substance.
Senator Bob Creedon caps off a 12-year Senate career, most of those years as Senate Judiciary Chair, with a hometown gig as Clerk of Courts, following his brother, former Senator Michael Creedon, who parlayed his own Senate career into a District Court judgeship. And that still leaves Representative Geraldine Creedon (wife of Bob) waiting in the wings.
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p>Senator Creedon knows how courts work? Definitely.
Why it is Kevin Creedon. Just like a medieval principality.
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p>The old saying goes that “if you want to get anything done in the court, go see a Creedon.”
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p>Is it little wonder that no one respects the courts?
But the article doesn’t say he’s going to resign from the senate, just that he’ll seek the office of Plymouth Clerk of Courts in the fall instead of seeking re-election.
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p>We’re also expecting a competitive race for Plymouth county treasurer, for those of you who can’t get enough of obscure, possibly unnecessary public offices.
They know how to work the system. What’s wrong with that?
If anyone did not notice, I was being facetious. But the Creedons know where the high paying good jobs are.
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p>Eddie Sullivan in Middlesex County, Jim Leary in Essex County, and Frank Powers in Plymouth County were one’s of a kind. Dedicated, good hearted public servants who made the Trial Court human!