Letter To The Editor: Call for McGee to Resign and Ehrlich to Explain

To the Editor, 

Last week, the Marblehead Republican Town Committee (MRTC) voted to call for Sen. Tom McGee’s immediate resignation from the Legislature in light of his high profile involvement in the Probation Department hiring scandal.  The MRTC is also urging Rep. LoriEhrlich to publicly address issues surrounding this scandal. 

Senator McGee's involvement with the Probation Department hiring scandal largely came to light after the most recent election. Although it appears that many legislators took part in this back-room dealing, the MRTC believes our elected legislators should be held to a high ethical standard. As a result of Sen. McGee being singled out by the independent investigation, we believe he is no longer suited to discharge his legislative duties honorably, and he is therefore unfit to represent his constituents going forth.     

A recent and concluded that “[t]he hiring and promotion process in the Probation Department is corrupt and has disproportionately favored politically-connected candidates.” 

Senator McGee was singled out in the independent investigation of the Probation Department as number eight on the list of high-frequency sponsors for jobs.  According to the report released to the media, Sen. McGee allegedly recommended 21 individuals for jobs or promotions in the Probation Department; 11 of his choices were ultimately hired or promoted.   

The independent investigation also concluded that funding the Probation Department, in excess of requested amounts, was tied to the fraudulent hiring and promotions. The report states: “The evidence demonstrates that an understanding existed among certain legislators and O’Brien [Probation Department Commissioner] that generous appropriations for the Probation Department were linked to O’Brien’s willingness to perpetuate and systematize fraudulent hiring and promotion on a pervasive scale.” 

It is the position of the MRTC that such back-room dealings between our State Senator and a corrupt government agency simply do not fairly represent the interests of Marblehead constituents.   

Massachusetts has seen more than its fair share of legislators going to jail for corrupt and illegal behavior in recent years.  While such behavior may be common place on Beacon Hill, Marblehead should not stand for a State Senator who is tainted by even the suggestion that his pro-funding votes on behalf of the Probation Department were part of a quid-pro-quo hiring scenario.   

Because a fair number of those named in the Probation Department scandal have elected to exercise their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, it may be years until we know what really happened; and perhaps we will never know.   
What we do know, however, is that in addition to his hiring recommendations, Sen. McGee voted at least twice (as did his counterpart in the House, Rep. Lori Ehrlich), to support funding for the corrupt Probation Department. 

Sen. McGee’s alleged behavior is unbecoming of our town’s legislative representation on Beacon Hill.  Accordingly, we are asking that he submit his resignation. 

The MRTC also asks that Rep. Ehrlich speak openly to her constituents about the votes she cast in favor of over-funding the corrupt Probation Department.  In light of the number of those allegedly already involved in the scandal, in light of the climate of corruption that has been plaguing Massachusetts in recent years, and in light of Rep. Ehrlich’s votes cast, it is imperative that she assure her constituents that at no time did she seek favors in return for votes. 

Sincerely,

Amy Carnevale

Chair, Marblehead Republican Town Committee (MRTC)