Time to Dispense with the Governor’s Council

By Steve Poftak
June 10th, 2008

Earlier this month, the Administration precipitated a ‘constitutional crisis’ with the Governor’s Council by agreeing to swear in prospective judge Maureen Monks. It seems that the Council had affirmed the appointment by a 5 – 2 voice vote but then several members changed their vote when signing the ‘register’ to deadlock at 4 – 4. The Administration decided that the voice vote was binding and moved on. If anyone cared about the Governor’s Council this would be an issue, but no one does. Senator Brian Joyce proposed to eliminate the Council at a recent Constitutional Convention and its worth revisiting the idea.

Fun Governor’s Council Sidebar: The most entertaining member of the council, by far, is Marilyn Petito Devaney. Some time ago, she was accused, among other things, of assaulting a store clerk with a thrown curling iron. As Dan Kennedy (in his blog) reports, she’s now suing the journalist who covered the incident, seeking to get her to reveal her sources. This is absurd under most circumstances, but particularly under circumstances like this. Kennedy also helpfully provides a YouTube gallery of Devaney berating various public officials in her other job as a Watertown City Councilor.