Twenty years after he first took office—and almost as long since he was supposed to leave that office, had he followed the self-imposed term limits he gave himself during that initial campaign—Hampden County District Attorney is about to retire. And the field of candidates to succeed him has filled up fast, with five Democrats and one Independent running for the seat.
On Tuesday, Aug. 24, voters can check out the candidates in person, at a forum hosted by the McKnight Neighborhood Council and McKnight Youth Council. The event will take place at American International College’s Sprague Center Auditorium, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The Council reports that all six candidates—Independent Mark Mastroianni and Democrats Stephen Buoniconti, James Goodhines, Michael Kogut, Stephen Spelman and Brett Vottero—have committed to attending.
The first hurdle for most of those candidates will be the Democratic primary, on Sept. 14. Buoniconti, a sitting state senator with a big fat campaign war chest (about $200,000 at last count, more than double that of Spelman, the second-highest fundraiser in the race), is generally viewed as the front-runner for the seat. Still, there’s time for the other candidates to move ahead in the frenzied period between Labor Day, when voters and the media typically begin paying attention to races, and the primary.
As an Independent, Mastroianni will be spared that Democratic dash to the primary, and can use his time and energy to prepare for the November final election.
