Although I did not do a posting on it the Globe has published another hit piece on Treasurer Tim Cahill, citing his support for a retirement under Group 4 for a campaign supporter. Group 4 is the pension category reserved for public safety personnel, and the Globe story paints Cahill as essentially fixing it so a campaign supporter could retire with a better pension. Cahill has been taking a pounding from the Globe, and the blogs, and really has not responded. Today he sent a letter out that he has sent to the Globe defending his actions, and the actions of Josephine Shea, the retiree in question. The Treasurer sees the need at this point to respond, and I believe he needs to engage. Below is the Cahill letter, sent via email.
Dear Friend,
In response to a recent Boston Globe article, below is my letter to the Globe’s editor submitted on June 10, 2009. We expect that an edited version will appear in the Globe in the near future. We thank you for your continued support and hope this letter provides you with a more comprehensive representation of the facts.
As State Treasurer, and someone rumored to be running for Governor, I understand and expect criticism of my record. The fact is, I welcome that examination. Time and again, my record proves to those interested that I have always followed the law in carrying out my duties as a public official.
When, however, speculation of my future plans causes political adversaries to use the Boston Globe to falsely and unfairly attack the accomplished record of a private citizen in an attempt to tarnish my reputation, I feel it necessary to set the record straight.
Josephine Shea served the people of Norfolk County with tireless dedication for over 22 years, working at the Norfolk County House of Corrections. She secured her position there when she was 26 years old and worked her way up the ranks, on her own merits, to the point where there were times that she was running the inmate population of the jail. For more than half of her career, Mrs. Shea worked in job classifications that the law categorizes as Group 4 such as Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent (Provision of Group 4 Recommendations can be found in full text on Treasurer Cahill’s website). Significantly, she also served as acting Sheriff. There were times during her career when circumstances required that Mrs. Shea actually had to have police protection at her home as a result of threats received while working at the Norfolk County House of Corrections.
Josephine Shea earned her retirement based on a lifetime of work in direct and indirect oversight of all aspects of the jail. She qualified for her pension under the law and it was approved by PERAC, which reviews and approves the retirements sent to them by local boards.
The fact is, Mrs. Shea’s only crime is being a supporter of mine during a time when political opportunists are directing the Globe to shine a bright light on my career simply because I have the temerity to publicly challenge the Governor’s policies.
I appreciate Mrs. Shea’s support and, more than anything, I respect and admire the dedication with which she served the people of Norfolk County. Once again, I welcome and encourage an examination of the public record I am so proud of. My supporters can have confidence that we have always done things the right way and that I will not allow corner office politics to wrongfully bring them down without a fight.
