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Hampden County D.A. candidates debate at AIC
Fighting crime in the city was the major theme at the recent debate between candidates for the position of Hampden County District Attorney. The debate was held in AIC's Esther Griswold Theatre.
All six candidates took part in the debate, including Democrats Stephen J. Buoniconti, James R. Goodhines, Michael T. Kogut, Stephen E. Spelman and Brett J. Vottero, as well as independent candidate Mark G. Mastroianni.
While all of the candidates agreed on the impact the District Attorney has on determining what charges are filed and how offenders are sentenced, there was some disagreement over the issue of minimum mandatory sentences.
There was also disagreement over Spelman's claim that Springfield was a "war zone."
Running on his military record and service in Iraq, Spelman said, "People feel as though they are living in a war zone. The tough law and order strategies that we used in Iraq, a society under extraordinary stress, will work here in Springfield and other places in Hampden County that are not under that kind of stress," Spelman said.
Mastroianni disagreed. "I'm happy to tell you Springfield is not a war zone," he said.
"You of course recognize that there's terrible problems in Springfield that are extremely isolated. If you look at the map you can put a pin on the sections of Springfield where the majority of crime comes from and you focus on those areas and you get into those areas with innovative programs," he said.
He said that you don't do it by "disparaging Springfield to scare people to cross the line to come in."
Kogut also took exception to Spelman's remarks. "We have great sections of the city and I agree it is not a war zone. It is not Baghdad and people do not feel that they're powerless," he said.
The debate was sponsored by the McKnight Neighborhood Council.
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