Kudos to Harvard Professor Danielle Allen for masterfully moderating Tuesday evening’s Candidate Forum. The event was a collaboration of the Ward 4 and 5 Dems and co-sponsored by Wards 10, 17, and 18. Tonya Alanez covered the event for The Boston Globe, writing:
“First up during the two-hour forum were interim DA Kevin Hayden and, Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo, who is also running in the Democratic primary in September.
Hayden and Arroyo are vying to win a full term as the county’s top law enforcement officer after former DA Rachael Rollins was appointed as US Attorney for Massachusetts.
Arroyo, 34, brings political experience and family clout to the race. He is the son of Felix D. Arroyo, the city’s first Latino councilor. He is a former public defender with a reputation as a police reform stalwart.
When asked to name ‘the three most import levers you think you’ll have available to you to pull as DA [to achieve your goals],’ Arroyo listed the DA’s power to charge and determine how, when and what charges to seek, followed by lending his voice to causes, political actions, and legislative fixes, and engaging community.
Hayden’s response to the same question produced a jumbled retort about community, prompting the moderator to say ‘I didn’t follow that. What’s the lever?’
Candidates for sheriff were also invited to the forum, though Sheriff Steven Tompkins did not participate.
Sandy Zamor Calixte, a longtime senior aide in the Suffolk County sheriff’s office is hoping to unseat Tompkins after nine years. She stepped down as the office’s chief of external affairs and communications in January to focus on her campaign.”
