Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of profiles introducing the Democratic candidates seeking the nomination to represent the 8th District on the Governor’s Council. A profile of Republican candidate John Comerford was published in June.
By GREG VINE
HOLYOKE — Attorney Shawn Allyn is one of four Democrats seeking his party’s nomination to fill the 8th District Governor’s Council seat held by East Longmeadow’s Mary Hurley, who announced earlier this year she would not run for reelection.
The Governor’s Council approves nominations made by the governor, including lifetime appointments to judgeships and clerkships. Other nominations the council votes on include Parole Board members, Department of Industrial Accident judges and other administrative quasi-judicial positions. The 8th District encompasses much of the state’s four westernmost counties, as well as parts of Worcester County. Council terms run for two years, and the position pays $36,025 yearly.
Allyn’s roots run deep in Holyoke, having been born and raised in the city. He attended Blessed Sacrament, a Catholic elementary and middle school, before attending and graduating from Holyoke Catholic High School. He remained in the city, where he went to Holyoke Community College, then moved on to complete a bachelor’s degree at Westfield State College (now University).
He completed his training in the law at what today is known as Western New England University’s School of Law.
After graduating from Westfield State, Allyn went to work with the Key Program, he said, “a program that provides outreach services to youth that are committed to the Department of Youth Services, and then the Department of Social Services, where we would assist the parents, tracking them and providing direct care services.”
He then moved on to the Department of Social Services, which has been renamed the Department of Children and Families. In his five years with the agency, he provided care services and protective services to abused children, along with victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Meanwhile, Allyn attended law school at night.
With law school under his belt, he clerked for the juvenile court, then became assistant city solicitor for the city of Holyoke before transitioning to private practice. He has been with the law firm of Allyn & Ball for just over two decades, serving as lead counsel in more than 2,000 criminal cases and acting as defense attorney in both state and federal court. He also participates in civil cases.
Regarding his decision to run for Governor’s Council, the 52-year-old Feeding Hills resident said, “I think I’m the most uniquely qualified candidate, given the vast experience I have practicing in just about every Superior Court in the state, in the Appeals Court, and in the district courts. Who better to vet a judge than someone who’s practiced in front of at least — without exaggeration — 50 different judges throughout my career, probably more than that.
“I know the ins and outs of the system, I know the bail statutes, I know the sentencing statutes, and I think that’s very important,” he added.
Another motivating factor for Allyn, he said, is “taking the politics out of this position. This position is way too important for politics, and it’s got to be qualifications over political connections.”
“We need to diversify our bench, and I mean the people we appoint to be judges,” he said. “The judges have to reflect the community in which we live. Retired (Springfield) Superior Court Judge Tina Page’s portrait was unveiled a couple of weeks ago. There has not been another Black Superior Court judge appointed in these four counties in two decades. We need to ask ourselves, ‘Why is that happening?’”
Page stepped down from the bench in 2018.
“Our judges need to reflect the community in which they’re judging,” Allyn said. “That’s very important to me, and the qualifications of judges is very important to me. Selecting judges that are going to keep our communities safe is going to be the No. 1 priority.”
Added Allyn: “It’s really important to make sure we have judges that believe in restorative justice for nonviolent offenders. It’s just so important to divert people out of our criminal justice system.”
His opponents in the Democratic primary are North Adams School Committee member Tara Jacobs, Springfield attorney Michael Fenton, and attorney Jeffrey Morneau of East Longmeadow. Palmer resident and U.S. Air Force veteran John Comerford is the sole Republican in the race.
Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.