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KOGUT FIRST TO ISSUE FUNDRAISING GUIDELINES Hampden County District Attorney candidate Michael T. Kogut today announced that his campaign will initiate several measures to ensure transparency and avoid the potential for the appearance of conflicts in accepting campaign contribution. The measures include:
*An independent screening panel to review all contributions for the appearance of possible conflicts.
*Contributions will not be accepted from current employees of the District Attorney's office.
* Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions will not be accepted.
* Lobbyist contributions will not be accepted.
* A link on the Kogut Committee web site will provide voters easy access to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance filings of the committee.
In announcing these initiatives, Kogut stated, Voters are rightly concerned over the large sums of money, particularly special interest money, being spent to influence elections. I believe because of the unique nature of the office of District Attorney, candidates for that office need to go above and beyond the requirements of the law and make every effort to be transparent and stay free of potential conflicts in the acceptance of campaign contributions. That is why I have announced these measures.
Kogut continued, I will name a committee of respected members of the local bar who will serve on a screening panel to aid the effort to ensure transparency and to avoid the appearance of conflicts by reviewing all contributions to my campaign. The citizens of Hampden County need to have confidence that decisions in the District Attorney's office will be made on the facts and the law and for no other reason. The screening committee will help give voters that confidence.
Commenting on his decision not to accept contributions from current employees of the District Attorney's Office Kogut said, I have the utmost respect for the men and women of the District Attorney's Office and the work they do. I served as an Assistant District Attorney and an Assistant Attorney General. I know how hard the job is, day in and day out. The last thing they should have to think about is putting their money on the right candidate who would be the next District Attorney. That is why I have decided not to accept their contributions. The best thing they can do is to concentrate on doing their job for the people of Hampden County and leave the politics to the candidates.
April filings at the Office of Campaign and Political Finance reveal that the five democratic candidates spent approximately a total $32,000 in April. Of that amount one candidate spent over $24,000 or three times the total of the other four candidates.
Kogut also pledged that the revolving door of assitant district attorneys and other employees of the office running for elected office and returning if losing or holding local office while employed by the district attorney's office will end if elected. "There is too much potential for conflict and it is too disruptive to the flow of business to have employees coming and going to run for office. If some one wants to seek election I will wish them well but they most resign." Kogut stated
Attorney Kogut is a resident of Springfield and has served as an Assistant District Attorney and an Assistant Attorney General. He is currently in private practice in Springfield.
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THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT |  | |
APRIL 6, 2010
KOGUT ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY
In recent weeks, we, as a community, have experienced the tragic loss of life of our young people through senseless acts of violence. We have seen the tragic effects of peer pressure and bullying on our children. We have witnessed the victims, the pain their families and friends endure as the result of violence, guns, gangs, drugs, domestic violence and sexual assaults. We know the social and economic toll that crime and the fear of crime takes on our community.
There are those who have said that the office of District Attorney is "struggling with too few resources to deal with poverty, despair and terrible crimes." I am not one of them.
I absolutely reject the notion that we cannot do more to make our streets, our neighborhoods, our schools, our workplaces and our homes safe from crime and safe from the fear of crime. I absolutely reject the notion that we are powerless to meet these challenges.
Now, more than ever, we need a District Attorney who is not only tough on crime but smart on crime as well. I have the experience and I will provide the leadership, the vision and the commitment needed to meet the challenges we face as a community.
That is why, today, I am offering my candidacy for District Attorney of Hampden County.
Twenty years ago I ran for this office because I believed that the District Attorney's office was in need of change. After a hard fought, issues oriented campaign, I finished second to Bill Bennett by fewer than 500 votes. Since that election I have spent nearly 8 years as Massachusetts Assistant Attorney General, that experience and my years in private practice have only deepened my commitment to the law, public service and our community.
Change is needed once again. While it is not the same, I do believe it is no less urgent now than it was then. Today, in seeking this office, I offer the same energy, the same commitment, the same vision and the same passion for change and reform that I did then. If we are to face the challenges that confront us now and in future years while dealing with crime and the fear of crime, we need to change the way we do business. We need to be tough; we need to be smart.
As District Attorney I will mobilize the resources and talents of organizations and institutions throughout all of Hampden County and beyond. This joint effort will ensure there is tough, swift and certain justice. We will protect the rights of victims. We will consistently work to prevent crimes before they happen and we need to rehabilitate so that those who rejoin our community will be productive members.
We can succeed. We must succeed. We will succeed. I have the experience, I have the commitment, I have the vision. I will provide the leadership that is needed to meet the challenges that we face. During this campaign I will offer the voters a clear picture of what I believe a modern District Attorneys office can and should look like. I encourage the citizens of Hampden County to participate by offering their thoughts and ideas as well by visiting my web site at www.votemikekogut.com or on facebook Mike Kogut for DA.
I look forward to an issues oriented campaign so that we can provide the voters with a clear comparison of our visions of what the next District Attorney can and should be. I encourage the citizens of Hampden County to study the candidates and what they offer and in doing so I will demonstrate that I can provide the vision and I can provide the leadership needed to run an effective and modern Districts Attorney's office.
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BUONICONTI CASINO PRIORITY MISGUIDEDKOGUT CALLS BOUNICONTI'S CASINO PRIORITIES MISGUIDED
SEEKS RETURN OF CASINO LOBBY CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
SPRINGFIELD - Democratic candidate for Hampden County District Attorney, Michael T. Kogut, today issued a statement in response to published reports that state Sen. Stephen J. Buoniconti's priority was to establish the four western counties as a region for a casino.
Clearly Sen. Buoniconti has his priorities wrong. As a candidate for District Attorney he is on record as stating that casinos will increase crime yet his priority is to continue to push for casinos. That, to me, is misguided. As a candidate for District Attorney his priority should not be to push for a proposal he knows will increase crime but rather oppose it.
In addition, the proposal put forth by the legislature lacks key law enforcement provisions
such as guaranteed funding for local police, prosecutors, courts, and victims funds that are
necessary to combat and deal with the inevitable increase in crime that comes with casinos. Furthermore, the legislation Sen. Buoniconti supports lacks a key element sought by Attorney General Martha Coakley and eight District Attorneys to prevent corruption and racketeering -- a modern wire tap statute . It seems to me that if the legislature is determined to build casinos, then as a responsible law-maker and candidate for District Attorney ensuring law enforcement the tools to fight the increase in crime associated with casinos should be priority number one. Particularly, in view of the fact the legislature has cut the prosecutors budgets by 8.5% over the past two years.
I also find it troubling that Sen. Buoniconti has taken thousands and thousands of dollars in contributions from casino lobbyists and others associated with casinos and gaming over the years to fill his campaign coffers and now his run for District Attorney. If he is to have any credibility on this issue, as legislator or as a candidate for District Attorney, he needs to either oppose the bill or return the money, get his priorities straight and support all the legislation needed to fund local police and prosecutors and adopt the laws necessary to fight the political corruption and other crime that comes with casinos. |
DEALING WITH DRUGS |  | |
The scourge of drugs continues to take its toll. A constant battle needs to be waged against drug abuse and the crimes, the economic loss, and loss of life that comes with it. It is endemic throughout our cities and towns.
We need to be tough on sellers and distributors but if we as a community are going to stem the tide of drug abuse being tough is not enough. We need to be smart. We need comprehensive,collaborative and cohesive, policies and initiatives that are fully and consistently funded if we are to make head-way in this fight.
As District Attorney of Hampden County I will:
Fully support and advocate for the swift and complete implementation of the Massachusetts Oxycontin and Heroin Commission recommendations. Click here for full report
Fully support and advocate for the passage of the legislation filed by State Senator Steven Tolman which would codify many of the Commission s recommendations and provide important rehabilitative services.
Advocate for and lobby other District Attorneys to join with me in using a portion of the drug forfeiture money from each office to jump start and fully implement the Massachusetts Prescription Drug Monitoring project which would be a major deterrent to prescription drug diversion.
Fully support the Massachusetts District Attorneys' Association unanimous support of funding to ensure maximum inmate participation in educational and therapeutic programs within our penal institutions. Successful participation in these programs is cost effective and increases the likelihood that the inmate will successfully reintegrate into the community.
Fully support and advocate for the Massachusetts District Attorneys' Association unanimous position to update the Commonwealth's drug sentencing laws to include a one-year minimum mandatory charging option for the crime of distribution, or possession with intent to distribute heroin. |
MIKE KOGUT'S COMMENT'S DURING NATIONAL CRIME VICITMS' RIGHTS WEEK |  | |
As District Attorney I will make victims rights a top agenda item of my administration. I will establish a web site that will provide up to date information on resources, procedures, and other information available to support and protect victims, witnesses and thier families.
I will strongly and consistently advocate for the full funding of SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) program, Domestic violence and sexual assault sevices and RISE (Refugee and Immigrant Safety and Empowerment)services.
I will fight for the passage of the following significant pieces of legislation which will enhance protections for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.
* Senate Bill 2274: This bill provides housing rights and protections for victims of domestic violence, rape sexual assault and stalking. It prevents denial based on one's status as a victim of abuse.
* Senate Bill 2382 (formerly Senate 673): This bill would protect employees who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking from being penalized in the workplace for taking time off to address issues related to being a victim of such crimes and creates important model workplace safety and policy procedures for employees.
*Senate Bill 1559: This bill would provide additional protections and enhance the rights of child and adult victims and witnesses of crimes.
It was once said, "Justice is not done until victims are served." If elected District Attorney I will make that saying the mission of my office.
Click here for resources |
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