Former Democratic Mayor Endorses Republican For Norfolk Sheriff

BROOKLINE, MA — As Election Day nears amid a searing political divide, in Norfolk County, the race for sheriff has a progressive Democrat endorsing the progressive Republican candidate.

The former mayor of Quincy, and runner up in the September Democratic Primary for Norfolk County Sheriff Bill Phelan marked his endorsement of Jerry McDermott, a Republican, for Norfolk County Sheriff by standing out holding signs with him in Brookline Village Wednesday.

"I am a lifelong Democrat, and I am endorsing Jerry McDermott for Sheriff," said Phelan, who lead in Brookline during the Democratic primary.

The Republican incumbent Jerry McDermott is running against Democratic candidate Pat McDermott who is not related to him.

As Jerry McDermott waved to drivers and pedestrians in Brookline Village he said the endorsement meant a lot to him.

Phelan said in this race it's important to listen to what words the candidates are using. He described his interactions with Jerry McDermott as having been full of substantive conversations about criminal justice reform and the compassionate care of people who are incarcerated.

"I learned that we share many of the same values," he said. "Like me, Jerry has a personal story that guides his commitment to public service. Jerry’s platform is consistent with my own vision for the jail, especially his focus on compassionate care, racial equity, improving treatment for mental health and substance use disorders and ending the unequal treatment of incarcerated women."

Jerry McDermott told Patch he is committed to being the first sheriff in Massachusetts to provide free local phone calls for inmates to their loved ones, and is working on phasing out the incarceration of women, instead pushing for having them in treatment facilities.

"As long as the people are getting the services they need and have successful reentry into society, then we’re doing our job," Jerry McDermott told Patch. "We need to break the cycle of disfunction."

The endorsement comes as the nation seems increasingly polarized.

"Partisanship has left our communities deeply divided, for me, making sure the best person is elected is more important than party politics," said Phelan. "Over the last two years, Jerry has demonstrated he is a Reformer with Results: The people of Norfolk County deserve to see that progress continue.”

Sheriff Jerry McDermott has been endorsed by more than 30 Norfolk County town officials, community advocates and legislators.

He is a graduate of Catholic Memorial High School, and UMass Boston. Was trained at the National Sheriffs Institute and the National Institute of Corrections. He has also completed the FBI – LEEDA program. He lives in Westwood with his two daughters.

His Democratic opponent, Pat McDermott has been the Norfolk County as Register of the Probate and Family Court for the past 17 years, he is a former a City Councilor in Quincy, and an attorney. He said he plans to audit existing programs and operations, update the office's infrastructure and ensure that before they leave the system, prisoners are able to secure health care, employment, housing and other services to set them on a path to success and reduce the chances of recidivism.

Got a tip? Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a press release you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how to post a press release, a column, event or opinion piece.