Sheriff DiPaola's Letter to Middlesex Residents
The Sheriff released the following letter announcing his resignation to the county's voters.
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[Editor's note: The following is Sheriff James DiPaola's open letter to the residents of Middlesex county.]
I write today to make a statement about my retirement and my re-election. First of all, I want to thank all of my supporters that assisted in re-electing me the Sheriff of Middlesex. I must admit I had reservations about running for another term. I have been a Public Servant for 36 years, since 1974. As I pondered my decision it was brought to my attention that I would be eligible for retirement and if re-elected eligible for the Salary of Sheriff.
It must be pointed out that if I retired and someone else was the sheriff there would be no cost savings. I made a black and white decision based on finances instead of my moral compass to run for re-election and to apply for retirement.
Once this decision was made public and I discussed it with [Boston] Globe reporter Sean Murphy, my first reaction was to defend the Law. Sean made a statement to me which really hit home. He said, "You know, sheriff, if you do this it will be your legacy and not any good you have done." I realized then that he was right. Being an elected official is about public service and not always the best financial deal. Shortly, after my discussion with Sean I decided that I would not continue my original course.
So, I want to announce that I will not be accepting the salary for sheriff. I also want to announce that on Jan 6, 2011, I will resign my position as Middlesex Sheriff. This will allow Gov Deval Patrick an opportunity to appoint someone to the Office. This decision I thought would be a difficult one. Well, it is not, today I want to thank Sean Murphy of the Boston Globe for reminding me of all the reasons that I served in public service for 36 years and assisting me in making this decision.
Thank you, and I ask for your understanding and support.
James V. DiPaola
Miss-X
6:46 pm on Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Did anyone see this post?? Part 1 of 2
Mr. Dipaolo:
Lets set the record straight. You filed your retirement papers with the State retirement board on or about October 2, 2010; one full month before the November 4th election. You were caught by the Globe spotlight team and contacted by several Globe reporters on this issue. You then hastily try to cover your motives by penning a letter to the residents of Middlesex County--just days after your telephone conversations with the reporters--and then mass distribute your letter to various news agencies for immediate publication. Your 'mea culpa' does not cut it sir! You, Mr. High Sheriff of Middlesex County got caught with your hand in the cookie jar as did your predecessor, 'Honest John McGonigle'.
Miss-X
6:47 pm on Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Did anyone see this post?? Part 2 of 2
Perhaps now maybe the U.S. Attorney's office (or by chance, but probably not, your buddy Martha Coakley, the A.G) will delve further into your office and its henchmen such as the retired Lt. Colonel from the state police collecting a pension and at the same time, a State paycheck for running your Framingham Civil Process office (while it seems that his official unmarked car is parked at his residence in Framingham, more than at the Sheriff's office in Framingham) . And while on the subject of your civil process staffing; perhaps the powers-to- be will look into the fact of the former mbta bus driver running your Cambridge civil process office as, (please excuse me as I try not to laugh) your 'Chief Deputy Sheriff', with no college degree or formal education and according to state payroll records raking in over 90K per year and also his wife a secretary in the same office draining the state payroll to the tune of over 76K per year......maybe it is time to move on to other things Mr. Sheriff....before you have more 'sleepless' nights after you have been indicted!
BusterP
Roberto Scalese
10:34 am on Friday, November 26, 2010
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