On August 24, 2022, Quinsigamond Community College and the Worcester County Bar Association hosted a candidates’ forum for the Massachusetts Attorney General. The forum was the first that took place with all four Massachusetts Attorney General candidates. The Democratic candidates are former Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell (who won the primary that was held on Tuesday, September 6), Attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan, and Deputy General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Commerce, Quentin Palfrey (who announced he was dropping out of the race on August 30). The Republican candidate is Attorney Jay McMahon. The event was moderated by Gina Plata-Nino, an attorney with the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, and executive committee member of the Worcester County Bar Association.
“The Massachusetts Attorney General acts as the ‘people’s attorney’ for citizens of the Commonwealth. We are honored to be co-hosting this event with the Worcester County Bar Association to inform our citizens of the candidates and their platforms, particularly as they relate to our local region,” said QCC President Luis G. Pedraja, Ph.D. “Building strong local and regional partnerships such as this one is vital to educational success for our students and increased prosperity for our community. These partnerships create networking and job opportunities for students, which in turn infuses our region’s economy with a skilled workforce.”
The Worcester County Bar Association has been serving Worcester County lawyers and the Worcester County community since 1887. With over 1,000 members, the bar aims to maintain the honor of the profession, promote the administration of justice, advance the science of jurisprudence, promote legal education, and foster and encourage cooperation and good fellowship among the members of the bar.
“The office of the Attorney General is an incredibly important office. We want to ensure the candidates understand the unique needs of Central Massachusetts. Most times, people go from Boston to Springfield leaving the heart of the Commonwealth behind,” Ms. Plata-Nino said. “As attorneys and community members, our bar is carefully watching this election. We hope that the next candidate will not only meet the needs of the commonwealth but will uphold the high standards of our profession.”
The Massachusetts general election will be held on November 8, 2022. Current Attorney General Maura Healey who has held the office since 2015, is running for Governor of Massachusetts.