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Former Prosecutor Running
for State Rep
Tom Duggan
 As
a former prosecutor with the District Attorney’s
office, Methuen resident Chris DiBella is running for
state representative in Methuen to replace the outgoing
Arthur Broadhurst. DiBella ran unsuccessfully for
district city council last fall.
This is his second run for office.
“I have a lot to offer Methuen,” DiBella said
in an exclusive with the Valley Patriot. “I have a
lot invested in this city.”
DiBella graduated from Suffolk Law School in 2004 did a
short stint at JP Morgan doing securities law until he
went out on his own. DiBella now has an office in
Burlington where he concentrates on real estate, wills
and trusts.
DiBella admits he will take a hefty pay cut if he wins
the state rep race but said he was running for altruistic
reasons, rather than advancement or financial
opportunity.
“I decided to run now because I think this is the
perfect time for me,” he said. “I have a pretty
good track record advocating for people on a daily basis,
whether in court or helping people with wills and trusts.
I want to use those advocating skills to go to Beacon
Hill and help the people of Methuen. I just didn’t
want to look back in 10 years and say I wish I had tried
it when I had the chance.”
DiBella says he worked in Lawrence District court as a
prosecutor, which handles criminal cases for Lawrence,
Methuen, Andover and North Andover.
“As a prosecutor, you get to see a lot of things
that the average person on the street never gets to see.
Drug dealings going on near schools, child predators in
parks, near the mall, crimes being committed in
neighborhoods that nobody ever hears about. I
couldn’t believe some of the things that I use to
see happening out there that never make the newspaper. I
am very concerned about public safety and when I am
elected I am going to make crimes against children and
the elderly my main focus.”
As a lawyer, DiBella says researching and drafting laws
is something he is already familiar with.
Asked what he thought about being the least known name in
a crowded field of candidates DiBella said his key to
winning the election was knocking on doors and listening
to people.
“I’ve been gong door to door and I will
continue to do that through the entire campaign. The
feedback I am receiving is great! People are telling me
that they want new blood, they say they are tired of the
same names on the ballot all the time. I am driving on
that energy, people want change, and I am the only
candidate in the race who can offer that.”
DiBella says his chances of winning the only state rep
seat in Methuen are “very good.”
“I would say, we came out winners of the poll at the
Democrat breakfast, we are getting a lot of support and
the more people who hear about our campaign the more
support I seem to be getting.”
Asked what kind of Democrat he plans to be if he
makes it to Beacon Hill, DiBella says he will not be
beholden to the party or special interests. “I am
going to be a Democrat who is fiscally
conservative.”
It is most important to be responsible with the taxpayers
money. My brother and I were the first kids in our family
to go to college. My dad worked in construction and was
in the union for 40 years. We grew up knowing the value
of the dollar, we didn’t spend frivolously and I
won’t spend the tax payers money frivolously. Every
dollar I spend from this campaign is going to benefit
Methuen and I hope that is going to continue for election
after election.”
Dibella says he likes the concept of MCAS but was unclear
on the particulars. He was also unclear on the
particulars of school vouchers, though he said he
supports the “idea” of merit pay for teachers.
He supports referendum petitions and said that if the
voters support or oppose a particular issue, whether or
not he personally supports those issues, he will adhere
to the will of the people.
“You really need to listen to the people,”
DiBella said. “You have to honor the will of the
people in a democracy. Even if it goes against what you
believe. I am not going to dictate. I am going to go out
and listen to people and if the people overwhelmingly
want something then, you are there to represent them you
have to give the people what they want.”
As for the issue of illegal aliens, he agrees with his
opponents that illegal aliens should not get government
service. “I can make this real simple,” DiBella
said. “As an attorney, and a prosecutor, I
can’t get past the word illegal. I am not against
immigration, my ancestors came over like everyone else.
But there is a process and the process needs to be
respected.”
He stopped short of saying he would support deporting
illegal aliens. “If you say they all need to be sent
back, then everyone will be entitled to a hearing, that
would be a total mess. So, we have to have a
comprehensive immigration policy. But we shouldn’t
be giving people rewards for breaking the law, you
don’t put them in front of people who are doing it
right, and you don’t give them in-state
tuition.”
DiBella says he believes local issues will most likely
determine who wins the state rep race. He supports
getting additional funding for either a new Methuen high
school or to renovate the existing school.
“I want to make sure Methuen gets our fair share of
the state dollars. It isn’t fair that some cities
are paying for other cities and towns. Definitely, more
funding should go into public education.
He has no strong feelings on the death penalty, saying
that he does not oppose it it ideologically, but added
“before I could support a death penalty bill I
would have to make sure there is a good system in place.
I would have to look at how it is being enforced, if I
was satisfied it was thorough and fool proof I could
support it in certain circumstance.”
DiBella already has a website where Methuen residents can
read about his stand on the issues, his bio, or make a
donation. www.chrisdibella.com.
DiBella will be facing former Methuen city councilors
Linda Campbell and Mike Hennessy, Methuen Veterans
services coordinator Ed “Hoppy” Curran and if
successful in the Democrat primary he would face
incumbent Methuen councilor Bob Andrew and Independent
Ken Henrick.
*Send your questions comments to ValleyPatriot@aol.com
The June, 2006 Edition
of the Valley Patriot
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly
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All Contents (C) 2006, Valley Patriot, Inc.
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