Councilor Marilyn Devaney, one of the four councilors who voted against Speranzo's nomination, ripped the judicial selection process as flawed and overly secretive.
Christopher SperanzoBOSTON – With Gov. Deval Patrick on hand to ensure a tie-breaking vote, Rep. Christopher Speranzo has won a lifetime appointment as clerk magistrate of the Pittsfield District Court, filling a two-year vacancy and overcoming objections from four members of the Governor's Council who questioned his qualifications.
The 5-4 vote on Wednesday came after Patrick canceled a planned vote on Speranzo last week, when his nomination might have been defeated because the governor and another Speranzo supporter, Councilor Christopher Iannella, were out of state and unable to attend the planned meeting.
"He probably is a good person. And I don't doubt that," said Councilor Marilyn Devaney, one of the four councilors who voted against Speranzo's nomination. "My son is a good person too, but I'm not going to give him a position as clerk magistrate because I want someone who is qualified."
Devaney also ripped the judicial selection process as flawed and overly secretive, questioning whether certain councilors exerted too much influence on the process.
"There's something wrong with this picture and I don't know how I can stop it," she said. "It's a runaway train."
Councilors who backed him praised his educational background and public sector career. Lt. Gov. Tim Murray, who cast the tie-breaking vote, also praised Speranzo and noted that clerk magistrate nominees often come with a mix of backgrounds.