Cahillane returns to job as assistant DA

NORTHAMPTON - Michael Cahillane is back on the job as an assistant Northwestern district attorney, now focusing on the arson case of Anthony Baye, which is scheduled for a pretrial conference Oct. 12.

Outgoing District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel brought Cahillane back as one of her top prosecutors Monday.

DA race: what they spent, and how they campaigned

NORTHAMPTON - Voter turnout for the district attorney race in the Sept. 14 primary election was 19.3 percent.

According to state records, 137,707 people were eligible to vote for the Northwestern district attorney candidates. Only 26,592 did, according to official voting results published by the Secretary of State's office Tuesday.

Sullivan looks to the future as presumed DA

NORTHAMPTON - Presumed to be the next Northwestern district attorney, Dave Sullivan says he will improve the way the region's top law enforcement agency handles court cases and reinvigorate its crime prevention programs. But even though he faces no opposition in the general election, Sullivan said he'll wait until after Nov. 2 to begin planning these changes in earnest.

Voters give their reasons for supporting DA candidates

NORTHAMPTON - Officials said turnout was average for today's primary election, and many voters interviewed around the region said the race for Northwestern district attorney was at the top of their list. Polls closed at 8 p.m; voting results are being posted on GazetteNET as soon as they are available.

Election Night links:
--Follow the results from cities/towns with GazetteNET's real-time chart
--See updates from candidates' gatherings and ongoing results on GazetteNET's Twitter channel (or search the #da2010 hashtag)
--Our full coverage is at our district attorney's race page

Sullivan takes Democratic primary for DA in a landslide

NORTHAMPTON - As the polls closed Tuesday, the early returns were strong for David E. Sullivan, one of two Democratic candidates for Northwestern district attorney. Those numbers never let up: Sullivan, of Easthampton, won the Democratic primary in dominant fashion over former assistant district attorney Michael A. Cahillane, taking all but a handful of towns across Franklin and Hampshire counties. The results secure Sullivan a spot on the Nov. 2 general election ballot, and he has no announced opposition in his quest to become the next Northwestern District Attorney.

Election Night links:
--Follow the results from cities/towns with GazetteNET's real-time chart
--See updates from candidates' gatherings and ongoing results on GazetteNET's Twitter channel (or search the #da2010 hashtag)
--Our full coverage is at our district attorney's race page

Dave Sullivan cruises to huge victory in Northwestern district attorney race

With numbers coming in from Pioneer Valley towns and cities at a 2-1 rate, David E. Sullivan of Easthampton has won the race to replace Elizabeth Scheibel as Northwestern district attorney handily. Challenger Michael E. Cahillane conceded the race at 9:30 p.m. in front of supporters at Tully O'Reilly's in Northampton. Stay with GazetteNET throughout the evening for continued real-time town and city numbers and full coverage of the election.

Election Night links:
--Follow the results from cities/towns with GazetteNET's real-time chart
--See updates from candidates' gatherings and ongoing results on GazetteNET's Twitter channel (or search the #da2010 hashtag)
--Our full coverage is at our district attorney's race page

Sullivan rolls to victory by 2-1 margin in Northwestern DA race

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.

Election links:
--Final results from Valley cities/towns
--Video coverage from Sullivan's celebration gathering
--Our full coverage is at our district attorney's race page

What to expect on Tuesday's primary ballot

Hampshire County voters will decide several primary races at the local, state and federal levels when they head to the polls Tuesday. Below is a snapshot of Democratic and Republican candidates running for contested primary seats and a spot on the Nov. 2 general election ballot.

In D.A.’s race, Cahillane and Sullivan say campaigning means defining the office

NORTHAMPTON - Out on the campaign trail, the two candidates for Northwestern district attorney say they've met a lot of people who don't know much about what the job involves. Is the district attorney a prosecutor or a defender? Does he or she just work in court, or is there more to it? This lack of understanding among some voters means that each of the candidates - Michael A. Cahillane and David E. Sullivan - is educating people about the position while trying to persuade them that he is the best one for it. And there's not much time left. The election that will essentially decide the race is Tuesday.
--Follow the race for Northwestern district attorney with GazetteNET's comprehensive coverage site

The DA's race: A deciding vote looms for Hampshire, Franklin counties

The race for the first new Northwestern district attorney in 17 years is coming down to its last few days, leaving residents of Hampshire and Franklin counties with a decision to make: Shall they vote on Tuesday for former assistant district attorney Michael A. Cahillane, or Hampshire County Register of Probate Dave Sullivan? Today, GazetteNET profiles the two candidates - their backgrounds, their reasons for pursuing the job, and the differences they're emphasizing to Pioneer Valley voters. We also post videos from recent visits by both candidates to the Gazette newsroom at our comprehensive DA's race page, and the Gazette delivers its endorsement in the race.

Dave Sullivan reaches for 'people's law office'

NORTHAMPTON - Over the last seven years, David E. Sullivan says he's made the Hampshire probate and family court more "user friendly." Now, running for Northwestern district attorney, he hopes to do the same thing for what he calls "the people's law office."

Michael A. Cahillane aims to parlay trial experience into DA post

NORTHAMPTON - Northwestern district attorney is the job Michael A. Cahillane has always wanted. And from his perspective, having worked his way up through the district attorney's office over more than 10 years, he's more than paid his dues.

DA candidates to appear in three forums

NORTHAMPTON The two candidates for district attorney will appear in three public forums before the primary on Tuesday, Sept. 14.

Michael Cahillane and Dave Sullivan are vying for the regions top law enforcement post. Both are Democrats, and with no other candidates in the race, the primary vote will decide the winner.

Candidates for DA go on advertising buying spree

NORTHAMPTON - Both candidates for Northwestern district attorney shelled out thousands of dollars for print and radio advertising in the second half of August, campaign finance records show.

Debate centers on skills: Rivals for DA skirmish again

NORTHAMPTON — Debate between the two Democratic candidates vying to become the region’s next top law enforcement official became testy at times Wednesday night, with David Sullivan charging that the Northwestern district attorney’s office displayed racial bias in a case overseen by his opponent, Michael Cahillane.

District attorney candidates clash over Vassell case

NORTHAMPTON — Debate between the two Democratic candidates vying to become the region’s next top law enforcement official became testy at times Wednesday night, with David Sullivan charging that the Northwestern district attorney’s office displayed racial bias in a case overseen by his opponent, Michael Cahillane.

Referring to the 2008 case of Jason Vassell, an African-American and then-student at the University of Massachusetts who was charged with stabbing two white men after they allegedly berated him with racial insults, Sullivan said the district attorney's office had wasted resources on prosecuting Vassell and exercised "an absolute lack of judgment." The case was dismissed earlier this summer.

Debate, endorsements as DA election nears

NORTHAMPTON - Northwestern district attorney candidates Michael Cahillane and Dave Sullivan will square off in a debate at 7 p.m. tonight.

Sponsored by The Daily Hampshire Gazette, The Recorder, WHMP and Northampton Community Television, the debate will be held at JFK Middle School, 100 Bridge Road, Florence.

Gazette invites questions for DA debate Wednesday

NORTHAMPTON - There's still time to submit questions to learn more about the two candidates seeking election to the office of Northwestern district attorney.

Campaign Notebook: Endorsements, sign-holding, debates for DA candidates

NORTHAMPTON - Amherst's police union has endorsed Michael Cahillane for Northwestern district attorney. Amherst Police League President Hunter Guiles cited Cahillane's working relationship with the police department as a prosecutor for the past 10 years.