Governor’s Council election: can history be made?

Two of the candidates in the contested races — Tamisha Civil and Eunice Zeigler, both Democrats who are Haitian-American — would be the first black women to serve on the council if elected. In separate interviews, both said they were pleased history could be made in the election, but each said they were focused on their respective campaigns for office.

Civil, a parole officer, is facing former judge Francis T. Crimmins Jr. in the race for the seat in the council’s Second District, which covers a district west and south of Boston that includes Framingham and Attleboro. comes face to face with. The post has been vacant since 2022.

Civil and Crimmins, a Republican, rely on their courtroom experience in their presentations to voters about why they might be the best choice to help vet judicial nominees.

Civil, 43, of Stoughton, said he was motivated to run by his cousin, James Lucien, who spent nearly 27 years in prison before his murder conviction was overturned in 2021. because his trial was affected by police misconduct and perjury.

In an interview, Civil said he wanted to promote the council to voters and solicit questions from the public to ask candidates, especially judges. He promised to only support judges who support abortion rights.

“Judges have tremendous power (and) we need to make sure we give that power to those who understand the needs of the voters in our district,” Civil said.

Crimmins did not respond to a request for comment. He said in a statement on his website that he believed the council’s aim was to ensure that “only the most qualified” candidates were appointed.

“Crimmins recognizes that the political landscape has changed and it is time for an experienced voice to help restore confidence in the Commonwealth Court System,” the statement said.

In the council’s Fifth District race, Zeigler, an executive at a Haverhill-based nonprofit, faces Republican Anne Manning-Martin, deputy commissioner of the state Department of Corrections, and independent Jody Elliott, a licensed mental health counselor.

The area is north of Boston and includes communities such as Salem and Methuen. Incumbent Eileen Duff is not seeking re-election and is supporting Zeigler.

The state’s judicial system remains largely white and male, and Gov. Maura Healey’s appointments have increased the number of women and people of color in those ranks. But they are also predominantly Democrats, the Globe reported.

Manning-Martin, 58, said in an interview that as a Republican, she would serve as a check on a Democratic governor and a Governor’s Council dominated by members of the same party. Manning-Martin, who is also a Peabody City Council member, points to her experience with judges and the Parole Board while working for the state Department of Corrections.

“Having one party, from the corner office to the Legislature to a body that certifies the judiciary, is not good for anyone. It’s a one-party system,” Manning-Martin said. “When I talk to a lot of voters … they don’t like it very much.”

Zeigler, 36, a former Methuen city councilman, is vice president of strategic planning and management at Emmaus, which specializes in emergency housing, housing and affordable housing programs in the Merrimack Valley. He said party affiliation would not be taken into account in judicial nominations and would serve as a check on the governor’s office.

“For me, the role goes beyond the party. … As a governor’s council member, my primary responsibility would be to be to the voters and to ensure that we have a fair judicial system,” he said.

Elliott, an independent, said in an interview that he has no interest in who is appointed to the judgeship because he is not a lawyer or “court expert.”

He called for a rule to prevent conflicts of interest, such as banning lawyers serving on the council from appearing before judges they appoint.

Without such a restriction in place, “that means a lot of temptations are on the table on a daily basis,” Elliott said.

The other two races will face challengers from incumbent Democrats Joseph C. Ferreira and Paul M. DePalo.

Ferreira is on the ballot alongside independent Krysten Condon in the race for the First District seat representing the Cape and Islands. DePalo will face Republican Andrew J. Couture in the Seventh District race to represent the Central Massachusetts district that includes Worcester.

Democrats are running unopposed in the council’s four uncontested races on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Mara Dolan expected for Council’s Third District long-time incumbent Marilyn M. Petitto will replace DevaneyAfter defeating Devaney in the September state primary.

Incumbents Christopher A. Iannella, Jr. (District 4), Terrence W. Kennedy (District 6) and Tara J. Jacobs (District 8) are running unopposed on Tuesday.

Globe staff member Matt Stout contributed to this report.

John Hilliard can be reached at [email protected].