MARGIE PALLADINO for Governor’s Council: A Strong Choice For Waltham Voters On September 1st

WALTHAM, MA — On September 1st, Waltham voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on a position that can have a far greater impact on Massachusetts families than many voters realize.

The Governor’s Council helps determine who will serve as judges across the Commonwealth.

That makes one question especially important:

Who do you trust to help choose them?

For many voters, Margie Palladino stands out.

A POWERFUL ENDORSEMENT

Palladino enters the race with the endorsement of Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio.

DiZoglio has highlighted the importance of trust, transparency and independent judgment. Qualities that are particularly important for members of the Governor’s Council.

But Palladino’s qualifications go well beyond an endorsement.

A CAREER BUILT IN THE COURTS

Palladino is a former trial attorney, former partner at a Boston law firm, and has Supreme Judicial Court experience.

She is also the co-founder and Executive Director of the Massachusetts Family Advocacy Coalition (MFAC), a grassroots organization focused on family-court reform and advocacy.

Her advocacy did not begin with this campaign.

For years, Palladino has worked with families, advocates and policymakers on fairness, justice and systemic family-court reform.

Her work surrounding the Massachusetts coercive-control law, along with amicus briefs she has authored, reflects an effort to create broader change, not simply address individual cases.

She has chosen to stand with thousands of families throughout Massachusetts.

THE FERRITER VOTE PUT THE GOVERNOR’S COUNCIL IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The race comes amid continued debate over the confirmation of Mary Ferriter to the Probate and Family Court.

The Governor’s Council confirmed Ferriter by a 4–3 vote.

The nomination drew significant concern from several domestic-violence survivors and family-court advocates, particularly regarding Ferriter’s prior involvement with a controversial court-ordered parenting program.

According to advocates, hundreds of survivors and advocates personally contacted Governor’s Councilor Mara Dolan asking her to oppose the nomination.

Dolan had stated that she stands behind domestic-violence victims.

She ultimately voted in favor of Ferriter’s confirmation.

That has prompted an important question:

When hundreds of survivors and advocates personally reach out to an elected representative, how much weight should those voices carry when a judicial appointment is being considered?

This is not an accusation that Dolan violated a law or ethics rule.

It is a question about trust, transparency, responsiveness and public confidence.

AND THERE’S ANOTHER QUESTION

Dolan is also an actively practicing attorney within the Massachusetts court system.

That raises another question voters may reasonably consider:

What safeguards should exist to protect public confidence in the independence of the judicial appointment process?

Again, this is not an allegation of wrongdoing.

It is a question about trust, transparency and the appearance of independence.

WHY WALTHAM VOTERS SHOULD CARE

The Governor’s Council may not receive the attention of other elected offices, but its decisions can have enormous consequences.

The judges it helps select can make decisions involving:

Children.
Custody.
Parenting time.
Safety.
And the future of families.

That makes the people selecting those judges important.

PALLADINO’S ADVOCACY REACHES BEYOND FAMILY COURT

Palladino supports LGBTQ+ rights, disability rights and anti-racism, reflecting her belief that fairness and equal justice should apply to everyone.

Her approach is straightforward:

Every person deserves to be heard. Every family deserves dignity. And everyone deserves equal justice under the law.

SEPTEMBER 1ST: WALTHAM HAS A CHOICE

Margie Palladino brings to the race:

Legal experience.
Trial experience.
Supreme Judicial Court experience.
Family-court advocacy.
A record of systemic reform.
And a commitment to standing with families.

The Ferriter nomination may have sparked the conversation.

But this election is about something much bigger:

Who should have a voice when Massachusetts judges are chosen?

On September 1st, Waltham voters get to decide.

A voice for families.
A voice for fairness.
A voice for justice.
A voice for reform.

ENDORSED BY MASSACHUSETTS STATE AUDITOR DIANA DIZOGLIO

SEPTEMBER 1, 2026

Waltham voters: your voice matters. Who chooses our judges matters.

Learn more about Margie Palladino:
https://margiepalladino.com/