Letter To The Editor From Medfield Residents

Dear Editor,

We are writing this letter to encourage our fellow Medfield residents to vote for Djuna Perkins for Norfolk County District Attorney on the Democratic primary ballot on or before September 1.

Djuna Perkins is the leader we need in Norfolk County. Djuna has been an attorney for over 30 years, including service as Assistant Attorney General, Assistant DA at the Suffolk

County DA’s office (where she led the Domestic Violence Unit), and working in private practice (where the bulk of her work focused on victims of sexual abuse).

When she was two weeks old, her mother died by suicide, having suffered from postpartum depression. Her father was stabbed and nearly died. Her childhood was marked by abuse, neglect, and poverty and she saw family members become involved with the criminal justice system (as both perpetrators and victims of crime). Because of this lived experience, she was driven to study law and to be a voice for the voiceless and those most at risk.

The Sandra Birchmore case is what ultimately motivated Djuna to run for DA. She believes that any trained prosecutor should have known that Sandra Birchmore’s death was not a suicide. When DA Morrissey ruled it a suicide, Djuna knew she needed to get involved. She was first to enter the race – long before DA Morrissey announced his resignation – and the first to call for his resignation.

Djuna understands that the District Attorney can change a family’s life with the stroke of a pen. The DA decides whether or not to pursue prosecution of a crime. There’s no appeals process if people are unhappy with that decision.

She is also focused on fairness and equity within the justice system. She realizes that we were not all dealt the same hand at birth, and that there are root causes of crime that need to be taken into account when deciding whether or not to prosecute.

Was a crime the most heinous, evil thing imaginable, a stupid decision someone made on a bad day, or somewhere in between?

She will look at each crime on a case-by-case basis and take all angles into consideration.

Her list of endorsements is incredibly long and includes:

• Former Suffolk County District Attorney Ralph Martin
• Former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger
• Several State Senators (including State Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem) and State Representatives
• Former State Rep Denise Garlick
• Former Congressional candidate and former Brookline Select Board member Jesse Mermell
• Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux
• Many municipal leaders (e.g., Select Board members, Town Council members, School Board members, Town Moderators) throughout the county
• Grassroots organizations and community activists
• A long list of criminal justice professionals

Learn more at djunaperkins.com. We hope you will join us in voting for Djuna Perkins for DA on or before September 1.

Signed by The Following Medfield Residents:

Cheri and Robert Autry

Helen and Greg Beedy

Susan and Jon Bernstein

Kirsten and Glen D’Abate

Eileen DeSorgher

Michael Filosa

Fritz Fleischmann

Brian Flynn

Heidi and Steve Groff

Lynette Kant

Becca and John Kornet

Joanne and Nino LaFrancesca

Jean Mineo

Martha Moon

Anna Mae O’Shea Brooke

Osler Peterson

Jessica Reilly

David Temple

Phil and Beth Tuths

Marge and Peter Vasaturo

Lauren Zembron