STOUGHTON — Election Day is coming sooner than you think, and one Stoughton man says he has the formula for success when it comes to the Governor's Council .
Francis T. Crimmins Jr. is the Republican candidate for the Governor's Council Second District seat — which represents dozens of communities including Bridgewater, Brockton, East Bridgewater, Easton, Randolph, Stoughton and West Bridgewater.
The retired judge and lifelong Stoughton resident said he hopes to win the election to preserve what the "founding fathers" created.
According to the state's website, the Governor's Council has a low-profile but a mighty job — the Council must give its advice and consent on pardons and commutations, judicial nominations and gubernatorial appointments to a host of boards and commissions, including the state Parole Board.
"It is important because of what our founding fathers provided in the constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1780 that preceded the U.S constitution by seven years. This commonwealth's founders wanted to ensure our governor didn't become a king. To do that, there's a series of checks and balances built into the constitution," Crimmins said.
Who is Francis Crimmins?
Crimmins was first appointed to the bench in 1992 at the age of 36 by Gov. William Weld to serve as associate justice in Stoughton District Court, according to Crimmins' campaign website.
Crimmins, who has a bachelor's degree from Harvard and a law degree from Suffolk, went on to serve as first justice of the Stoughton Division District Court Department of the Massachusetts Trial Court from 2001 to 2010 and held a position as associate justice of the Appellate Division of the Department of the Trial Court.
In 2022, Crimmins was appointed chairman of the Massachusetts State Ballot Law Commission by Gov. Charlie Baker and served in that capacity until 2024.
Crimmins has also done stints in municipal government, serving as the Stoughton town manager from 2010 to 2012 and the Avon town administrator from 2014 to 2018, according to has website. Currently, he is the managing member of a Stoughton law firm concentrating in estate planning and elder law.
He is a lifelong resident of Stoughton, where he and his wife, Joanne Crimmins, raised their four kids.
Who is the Democratic candidate? 'Never again': Stoughton woman whose cousin was wrongfully imprisoned wants seat at table
Why is Crimmins running for Governor's Council?
Crimmins said his extensive legal and municipal background has given him a solid foundation to do the work the Governor's Council is tasked with — sizing up nominees for key positions.
"I think I know what makes a good public servant in those very important positions," Crimmins said.
"The goals are to make sure that any person that's nominated under the jurisdiction of the Governor's Council is the best person we can get to serve in those positions."
Crimmins hopes to create a bright future for his grandkids by helping the community in the best way he knows how: by being a public servant for a better tomorrow, he said.
'Quiet too long' Brockton High teacher fights for disability after falling down stairs
Who else is running for the seat?
Crimmins, the sole Republican to run for the seat, will face off in the general election on Nov. 5 against fellow Stoughton resident Tamisha Civil , who won the Democratic primary on Sept. 3 against three other candidates .
Which cities and towns are in the Second District?
The Second District includes Ashland, Attleboro, Avon, Bellingham, Bridgewater, Brockton, Canton, Dover, East Bridgewater, Easton, Foxboro, Framingham, Franklin, Halifax, Hanson, Holliston, Hopkinton, Mansfield, Medfield, Medway, Milford, Millis, Milton, Natick, Needham, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Norton, Plainville, Randolph, Sharon, Sherborn, Stoughton, West Bridgewater, Whitman and Wrentham, as well as parts of Braintree.
When is the election?
Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. The last day to register to vote in the election is Saturday, Oct. 26.
This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: 'Ensures our governor didn't become a king': Retired Stoughton judge runs for Guv's Council
Local News
