Talk About Security at Home

If I had my way, the only crimes that would face capital punishment would be male-perpetrated domestic abuse and violence against women and children. Period. Why society lets abusive men get away with these atrocious crimes is beyond me. Even more appalling is the thought that one of these monsters might be an elected public official. Impossible? Think again.

My roommate is interning with Mass Alliance, a coalition of progressive groups in Massachusetts, and has been volunteering on Melissa Murgo's campaign for State Representative out in the sixteenth district (Worcester). Murgo is running against John Fresolo, who, according to various press and personal accounts, deserves to be locked up and slapped around for all of his stupid and violent antics against his family and his political opponents. Fresolo came to Beacon Hill in 1999 out of a four-way race on the local strength of his father's name. On his own, he wouldn't be qualified to pump gas at a full-service station. Since taking office, he's ripped off tax payers by requesting per diem money for travel beyond the number of days that the General Court is actually in session. His politics are outdated and out of synch with the changing demographics of Worcester and the state. Even his own party hates him: the Mass Scorecard gave him a C for his voting record with the platform of the Massachusetts Democratic Party (and it's not even on respectable issues like state spending, either; it's because he voted against fundamental rights like gay marriage and for giving corporations tax breaks).

Murgo, who graduated from BC and holds an MPA from Framingham State College, worked for Fresolo, and that experience actually made her want to run against him. Two years ago, she lost 54% to 46%. The campaign was a nightmare: Murgo's car was keyed (the assailant couldn't even spell "whore" right), shot at with paint balls, and almost run over by Fresolo himself. Murgo lost even after news had surfaced that Fresolo beat his wife. This time around, Murgo is giving it another go after the Worcester Telegram and Gazette revealed that Fresolo was under investigation for giving his thirteen-year old daughter a BLACK EYE. Basically, a stinking sack of shit could represent Worcester better, because at least a sack of shit wouldn't think that a good time is battering the most vulnerable members of our society (although, baffling enough, the conventional reaction around Worcester seems to be "hitting your wife is one thing, but hitting your kids is just crossing the line).

Murgo is giving Worcester one better; she is running on a progressive platform of investment in education and in Worcester's transportation infrastructure. Fresolo is in a much more vulnerable position: he can't call on the slimy Tom Finneran anymore for financial and political support, and many Worcester endorsers that supported him two years ago are staying out of the race.

How this twit has managed to stay in office this long is a mystery to me. Worcester apparently loves incumbents. But, this time around, even Helen Keller would tell you that Fresolo's pathetic ass needs to go. Initial polling suggests that Fresolo's approvals are hovering around fifty percent. To really kick him in the crotch, though, Murgo will need a lot of grassroots and financial help, especially since she only took out papers in April. Building on her impressive momentum from 2004, however, and with news of Fresolo's own criminal doings, Murgo has a real and significant shot in the sixteenth district.

To learn more about Melissa Murgo's campaign, visit her (unfortunately amateur) website. You can also donate to her campaign by sending checks to: The Committee to Elect Melissa Murgo, 179 Delmont Avenue, Worcester, MA 01604.