BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, SEPT. 21-23, 2018 THE WEEKEND EDITION) — Two simple, declarative sentences neatly sum up the state of the race for Berkshire County district attorney: (1) “This is going to be a wild one.” (2) Did she or didn’t she?

(1) This is going to be a wild one.”

Thus spake a comment on THE PLANET regarding the dramatic announcement of Paul Caccaviello to seek the office of Berkshire County district attorney by virtue of a write-in or sticker campaign. The irony is that he’s already the D.A. He’s the incumbent, appointed not elected but nonetheless the incumbent. That and several other factors remove his action from that of a typical “protest” bid, the kind, say, Dan Valenti “ran” when he finished third in the previous mayoral race, beating Peter Marchetti and trailing Dan Bianchi and Linda Tyer. This bid is real and not even close to the “sore loser” or “token protest” effort that mars most campaigns of this sort.  This bid has much going for it and, despite the loud assertions from Team Harrington that it can’t succeed, it assuredly can.

Caccaviello’s announcement seems to have thrown Harrington, who thought after her primary win she could put the machine on cruise control and bask in the trappings of an uncontested run, leading up to the coronation.

It won’t be that way at all. She’s got the Ticket, but Cacc’s jumpin on for the ride.

Harrington’s going to have to slog as she has never done before, more so than in the preliminary election, because Caccaviello comes into this with key advantages. Sure, he lost the party nomination with his name on the ballot, but his decision to run speaks of a man who BELIEVES what he is doing, and both he and the electorate should be excited at this second chance. This addresses one of the key faults that plagued his September primary bid: His failure to communicate to voters how much he wants to retain the office. This is a man who is rolling the wad on one roll of the dice, ignoring the odds and risking either career-ending defeat or pulling off a great political triumph that would go down with the immortals in local political annals.

Cacc says he’s not a politician, and he campaigned as such the first time around. This time, he will have to become one, at least as much as he can stomach. This time, he’s spoken the willingness of his message with action not words. THE PLANET calls it a flying start.

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The Harrington campaign is scurrying now, trying to figure out what’s next. Cacc’s unprecedented move has knocked them for a loop.  Caccaviello is on to something, and what’s wrong with letting the Democratic process play out fully, this time giving the 9,000 Republicans in Berkshire County a say in the outcome? Cacc’s comparative “tough on crime” stance compared to Harrington’s perceived “soft, coddling” approach should play well with GOPers.

(2) Did she or didn’t she?

THE PLANET also learned that on Tuesday night, Harringon placed a call to Melissa Mazzeo. That much everyone agrees upon. What was the topic of that call? That’s the crucial question. Mazzeo is unequivocal. She says Harrington threatened her.

Mazzeo said Harrington called asking the latter if she (Mazzeo) was running Caccaviello’s write-in effort, with help from Dan Bianchi. Rumors have circulated that Mazzeo is directing the sticker bid (including fundraising) with help from either (or both) Bianchi or Mark Tully.

Mazzeo told THE PLANET that “the [threatening] tone of her accusation caught me off guard. I [told her] I am NOT running Paul’s write-in bid nor am I in charge of fundraising.”

Mazzeo spoke further of the call: “I told her that I was confused as to why she would link me to all of this, considering I have never been to any of Paul’s campaign meetings nor have I been to any of the meetings that were taking place to encourage him to continue with this race. I said that I would support him 100% if he chose to move forward, since I was not aware of his decision at this time. This is when things got a little unsettling.”

Mazzeo continued, “Andrea told me by supporting his write-in efforts that I was messing with the Democratic process. She went on to say that the voters spoke and that I should accept that. She continued on to say that she is aware that I may have future ambitions and would need the help of the Democratic party and if I were to meddle in this that it could potentially hurt me politically. I have to say, after hearing the DA-elect allude to the fact that I should mind my own business or suffer the consequences, was concerning. So I gathered my thoughts and said that Paul was adhering to the Democratic process by allowing every voter, not just the Democrats/Unenrolled, to vote for the candidate most qualified for this job, and in my opinion that is Paul.”

Mazzeo said that Harrington “was also highly irritated that this would force her to continue to campaign while trying to get ready to transition into this new role. I reminded her that Paul had to campaign and run this office, too. So the long story is, I am not running Paul’s write-in campaign but I will do whatever is needed to help and continue to support him as I had before.”

THE PLANET contacted Harrington, who admitted she called Mazzeo, not to make threats but simply to ask for her support in the general election. Adam Webster of Castle Point Partners, a political consutancy based in Boston hired by the Harrington campaign, said that Harrington emphatically denies making any threats about Mazzeo’s future political aspirations. Webster said Harrington calls Mazzeo’s assertions “wholly untrue and completely absurd.”

Cacc’s announcement forced Harrington into her first major blunder. He acted. She overreacted. It was her first huge blunder.

Yes, friends, this is going to be a wild one.

Have a great weekend.

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“Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that” — Martin Luther King.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

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