Meet the three Republicans competing for Cape and Islands District Attorney in Sept. 6 primary
Since 1971, the Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office has remained in Republican hands.
But after Michael O'Keefe, the current district attorney, announced he would not seek a sixth term this year, four candidates — one who is a Democrat — entered the race.
O'Keefe, a Republican, served first as assistant district attorney under then-District Attorney Philip Rollins, also a Republican, who held the position for 32 years before O'Keefe was elected in 2002.
Robert Joseph Galibois, a defense attorney and the lone Democrat in this year's district attorney race, is running against three Republicans, including Daniel Higgins, assistant district attorney for the Cape and Islands; Melissa Alden, a family law attorney; and John F. Carey, who is a defense attorney.
The Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office prosecutes crimes in Gay Head (Aquinnah), Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster, Chatham, Chilmark, Dennis, Eastham, Edgartown, Falmouth, Gosnold, Harwich, Mashpee, Nantucket, Oak Bluffs, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Tisbury, Truro, Wellfleet, West Tisbury and Yarmouth.
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We asked the Republican candidates to provide information about their background, experience and priorities if elected. They are in alphabetical order.
Melissa R. Alden
Age: 45
Residence: Marstons Mills
Education: University of Massachusetts Dartmouth; Southern New England School of Law (formerly the University of Massachusetts Law School); Police Academy, Municipal Police Training Council in Weymouth
Employment: Law Office of Melissa R. Alden, Barnstable
Political experience: None.
Other civic engagement: Independence House, Massachusetts Association of Women in Law Enforcement, Elder Abuse Council Cape Cod, Barnstable Bar Association
Why are you running?
I am running because I live here, I served here, and have raised my family here and see that it is time for a change. It is time for new ideas with new energy that focus on helping Cape and Islanders feel safe and advocated on behalf. The role of the District Attorney is to provide community safety and justice. This does not come from experience prosecuting cases, it comes from a well-rounded knowledge of our community and what leads to crime, what effects crime has on the community and what options and resources are available after to keep our community safe and assist victims. The District Attorney does not make laws, but ensures those laws on the books are enforced to keep our communities safe. I believe we need to promote community safety, provide training and support for our Assistant District Attorneys, and to provide appropriate diversions that will help our citizens. I envision a proactive, as opposed to reactive, District Attorney's office. The number of repeat and violent offenders continues to rise, there continues to be an increase in substance abuse disorder and deaths, and the number of individuals incarcerated due to mental illness or dual diagnoses continues to rise. I envision a restructured District Attorney's office to bring these changes which includes fully prosecuting violent and repeat offenders, improving interagency relationship and communication to aid in prosecution and assisting victims (focusing on improving interagency relationship with Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard), implementing a Veteran's Court session , implementing a mental health session and a drug endangered children program to place more focus on prevention.
What is the most pressing issue in your district and how would you address it?
The most pressing issue for the Cape & Islands is our community safety — a multifaceted issue. The number of violent and repeat offenders (including drug traffickers) that are released into our community is a great concern. Violent criminals have violent criminal records and should be charged fully and prosecuted for their crimes. In my opinion, criminal charges that include a minimum mandatory sentence should not be plea bargained away. I will work collaboratively with our law enforcement and first responders to ensure career criminals are fully prosecuted. There is sufficient legislation on the books to protect the rights of defendants; I will always prioritize victims of crime and their families. The safety of our community includes those suffering from substance use abuse and mental health.
How do you differ from the other candidates?
I am the only candidate who has lived here, served here, and raised my family here. I am a mother, a former police officer, and attorney who has raised my family here on Cape Cod with my children attending public school. I have experience, not only as a lawyer litigating cases involving family issues, mental health, and substance abuse, but as boots on the ground as a law enforcement officer. If you want change to be tough on violent and repeat offenders — then vote for me. If you want someone who has compassion when needed to get the appropriate services for victims of crime, victims of substance abuse and mental illness, and for our veterans then vote for me. If you want change then vote for me.
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John F. 'Jack' Carey
Age: 54
Residence: Sandwich
Education: Massachusetts Maritime Academy; New England School of Law; served in the Navy
Employment: Carey Law Offices, Charlestown
Political experience: According to papers filed with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance on Jan. 10, Carey initially sought to run for state senate — eventually withdrawing his candidacy to run for district attorney instead.
Civic engagement: American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Military Order of the World Wars.
Why are you running?
For more than 30 years, I have looked for ways to serve others, primarily in the U.S. Navy or as a public defender. I am running to be our next district attorney, because I want to positively contribute to the society that myself and my family are part of. I want my family and all members of the Cape and Islands community to be safe. As district attorney, I would utilize my experiences and leadership that I gained from my Naval career and years as a litigator in the Massachusetts courts to ensure the laws are enforced and we keep the Cape and Islands, our home, safe for our families and for our children.
What is the most pressing issue in your district and how would you address it?
Statistically and as reported the drug epidemic is the most pressing criminal concern facing the Cape and the Islands today. In addition to aggressively prosecuting the dealers and the distribution network associated with illicit drugs in our community, we must raise awareness among the constituents of the Cape and the Islands about the dangers of addiction and unsafe drug use. As your District Attorney I will work with the Drug Enforcement Agency to initiate what is known as Operation Engage on the Cape and Islands. Operation Engage is a community-based approach to address the drug epidemic through a number of approaches including: prevention strategies, facilitating conversations and collaboration with local partners, police, town officials, seniors and schools. It focuses on informed substance use prevention and community outreach efforts to make a significant and measurable difference.
How do you differ from the other candidates?
One word. Leadership! I am the only candidate to have served our country in the military and moreover as a commander directly responsible for troops in combat situations. This leadership cannot be learned in a book, law school, or a courtroom. During my Naval career, I also worked on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations where I ran various department initiatives and was responsible for managing budgets, personnel and communications. Combined with over 23 years of proven litigation proficiency, extensive knowledge of courtroom and trial proceedings, and founding a successful law practice, my background, qualifications and life experiences set me apart from the other candidates as a strong leader for the DA position.
Daniel Higgins
Age: 39
Residence: West Barnstable
Education: Boston College, Suffolk University Law School.
Employment: assistant district attorney at the Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office
Political Experience: None
Civic engagement: YMCA Cape Cod, Barnstable Bar Association, West Barnstable Civic Association, White Ribbon Day, Independence House, Earth Day Cleanup
Why are you running?
I am running for District Attorney because I believe it’s important to keep experienced professional leadership at work in the District Attorney’s Office. My home is here in the district. I live in West Barnstable with my wife Elizabeth and our son Charlie. I want to keep our communities safe for my family and yours. This is not a place for on-the-job training. This is a job where experience counts. The District Attorney has to lead the largest law firm on the Cape and that requires knowledge and good judgment which only comes from experience. I bring that knowledge and experience to this race, and that’s why I am running.
What is the most pressing issue in your district and how would you address it?
The most pressing issue remains drug addiction. It is a problem which has been hidden somewhat by the pandemic. But as the pandemic recedes, attention will once again focus on this issue. In our office we have 18 Massachusetts State Police personnel, half of which are dedicated to drug interdiction.
But we cannot arrest our way out of this scourge of drugs. We must continually work on improving treatment and prevention in medical facilities and schools. It takes all of society to do this, not just the criminal justice system. The foregoing should not be understood to minimize other serious issues such as child abuse and domestic violence and others, all of which are important particularly if they happen to impact you or a loved one. In our office we have to pay attention to all of these issues.
How do you differ from the other candidates?
I differ from the other candidates in one important respect. I have the experience and knowledge of the criminal justice system to be district attorney and to lead a group of 25 assistant district attorneys. I have been an assistant district attorney for 13 years. I have prosecuted all types of criminal cases including murder. I have been in a leadership position in the District Attorney’s office, supervising the attorneys in the five district courts in our jurisdiction. Being a District Attorney is not like being a State Representative or Senator. It is an executive position where decisions have to be made based on knowledge of the law and the intricacies of the criminal justice system. It’s important for the 25 lawyers who work there to have confidence in their boss’s leadership because he or she has done the job. I bring that knowledge and experience to this race and that is why I am the best candidate for this job.
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Meet the three Republicans vying for Cape & Islands District Attorney
