1

JERREY ROBERTS

David Sullivan, center right, celebrates with his supporters Tuesday night at the American Legion in Easthampton after defeating Michael Cahillane in the Democratic primary for Northwestern district attorney. Sullivan has no announced opposition in the Nov. 2 general election.

2

JERREY ROBERTS

David Sullivan hugs Christopher Carey, 10, of Easthampton, after Carey read the Democratic primary results for Easthampton Tuesday night at the American Legion there. Carey’s father, Michael Carey, helped with Sullivan’s successful campaign for Northwestern district attorney.

3

JERREY ROBERTS

Michael Cahillane, top, shakes hands with Edwin Nartowicz of Northampton during his election party Tuesday night at Tully O’Reilly’s Pub in Northampton. David Sullivan defeated Cahillane in the Democratic primary for Northwestern district attorney.

NORTHAMPTON — After a landslide victory in the first contested race in nearly three decades for Northwestern district attorney, Dave Sullivan said he looks forward to "reinventing" the region’s top law enforcement post.

Sullivan, 50, bested Michael A. Cahillane by a two-to-one margin, taking all but a handful of towns across Franklin and Hampshire counties in Tuesday's Democratic primary.

In total, 17,427 (67 percent) Democratic and unenrolled voters across Hampshire and Franklin counties and in Athol voted for Sullivan, and 8,568 (33 percent) voted for Cahillane.

"I pledge that I will be a district attorney who will listen to the people, and in each and every case that we handle, justice will be done," Sullivan said in his victory speech before a crowd of about 200 at American Legion Post 224 in Easthampton.

Sullivan has no announced opposition in the Nov. 2 general election. That means he will most likely succeed Republican Elizabeth D. Scheibel, of South Hadley, who is not seeking re-election after 18 years in office.

The three largest communities in Hampshire County all went for Sullivan. He won in Cahillane's hometown, Northampton, by 3,699 to 1,843. Sullivan's hometown, Easthampton, gave him 1,702 votes to Cahillane's 536. In Amherst, Sullivan won 2,075 to 403.

Sullivan also won in Scheibel's hometown, South Hadley, garnering 971 votes to Cahillane's 715.

In Franklin County, Sullivan won Greenfield 1,410 to 774 and Montague 511 to 286.

Cahillane carried Ware 229 to 160; Granby 242 to 192; Hawley 20 to 18; and Middlefield 45 to 43. The candidates tied in Bernardston, with 106 votes each.

Sullivan said he plans to finish the year in his current job as Hampshire County register of probate, and will be back at work there this morning.

He praised Cahillane as a "good and talented man" and said their contest "raised the profile" of the district attorney's office. "I think both of us had the same goal, and that's public service," Sullivan said.

An assistant district attorney for 10 years under Scheibel, Cahillane, 40, conceded before a crowd of supporters at Tully O'Reilly's Pub in Northampton shortly before 9:30 p.m.

Cahillane gave his concession speech after a lengthy closed-door meeting with family members, including his parents, Michael and Florence, and brother Tommy.

When Michael Cahillane emerged, he continued to greet supporters with long embraces. His concession speech was concise and interrupted at times by supporters in the crowd, including one who yelled "We believe in you!"

"We know that from day one, we ran a great campaign, that we ran this race for the right reasons and we did everything we could and above board," he said.

"The people of the Northwestern district have spoken," added Cahillane, amid intermittent cheers from supporters. "I respect that. I wish Dave Sullivan good luck."

"I will hold my head high, and I have you as my friends and supporters," he said in closing.

The campaign between the two Democrats pitted Cahillane, an experienced prosecutor under Scheibel, against Sullivan, a former defense attorney who pledged to reform the district attorney's office and make it more accessible and responsive to the communities it serves.

"We needed a new direction for a long time and it's coming," said Sullivan backer John Pucci, a Northampton lawyer and former federal prosecutor.

Sullivan said he would have an "open hiring process" for assistant district attorneys and "hadn't ruled out" offering Cahillane a job.

Asked whether he would seek a job with Sullivan, Cahillane said, "I would not." He said he has not yet determined his next step.

Supporters of Cahillane said the campaign against Sullivan was not in vain.

"It's really unfortunate," said Kasey Nagle, son of former state Rep. William P. Nagle Jr. of Northampton, who campaigned hard for Cahillane in recent days. "Mike's a great guy. I wouldn't regret it for a second."

Others said Sullivan's political clout and war chest appeared too much for Cahillane to overcome, despite backing from area law enforcement groups.

"I feel bad for Mike because he ran up against the political establishment," said Northampton resident Jack Cogan, a Cahillane supporter. "Sullivan's connected politically. He (Cahillane) is not connected politically. Unfortunately, the DA is a political thing."

Cahillane had the backing of several law enforcement agencies and officials, including many who have worked with him over the years.

"He's a known element," said Northampton Police Detective Lt. Kenneth Watson, shortly before Cahillane addressed his supporters.

Watson, among others on hand, said he was surprised by the returns. "I thought it would be closer," he said.

Needed reforms

Sullivan supporters said their candidate would bring needed reforms to a district attorney's office criticized in recent years for its strained relationship with the bar and its handling of some controversial cases.

"This election's a referendum on the current DA's office and the way things were done in the past," said Northampton lawyer Michael Malkovich, a Sullivan supporter. "I think we're ready for significant change."

"Sully is the right guy for the job," said Harry Miles, a Northampton attorney and an assistant district attorney in the early 1980s. "He's got not only the legal experience but the life experience to make a great DA."

W. Michael Ryan, a retired judge who served as Northwestern district attorney from 1983 to 1988, said Sullivan's vision for the district attorney's office is more "realistic" than Cahillane's.

Ryan was one of Sullivan's early supporters and a vigorous campaigner. Looking at the election results, he quipped, "If I knew he was going to win so big, I would have worked half as hard."

Sullivan got an early start in the race, declaring his candidacy in January 2009, before Scheibel said she would not seek a fifth term. Cahillane entered the race in June 2009.

While the candidates stayed civil in debates and other forums, each tried to highlight the other's shortcomings.

Linking Cahillane to his former boss, Sullivan hammered on cases where he said Scheibel showed poor judgment.

Cahillane, meanwhile, criticized Sullivan's lack of experience as a prosecutor, and raising questions about his links to area politicians and defense lawyers.

In a debate hosted by Springfield television station WWLP last Thursday, Cahillane took aim at the Hampshire Probate and Family Court, asking Sullivan, "Would you join me today in advocating to the Legislature and the governor to reduce the funding for that office and to put it toward the district attorney's office and the criminal justice system?"

Defending his current office, Sullivan said it has the "best record in the state for innovative programs."

Sullivan maintained a lead in fundraising throughout the race, bringing in about $167,000 in campaign contributions as of Aug. 31, according to records filed with the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Cahillane raised about $87,000 as of Aug. 31.

Financial information for the final 14 days of the campaign likely will be available by the end of the week.