STATE SENATOR Anthony Galluccio owes it to his constituents and himself to get treatment for his drinking problem. If the Cambridge lawmaker doesn’t check into rehab right away, the Senate leadership should stage an intervention.
On the afternoon of Oct. 4, Galluccio struck a minivan with a family of four in it, and then fled the scene. The latest revelation is that, about 13 hours before that event, police responded to a 911 caller who said Galluccio was too intoxicated to drive; a Cambridge police officer ended up bringing the senator home. Galluccio has declined to say whether he was drunk when he hit the minivan, admitting only that he “used poor judgment’’ in fleeing. But that poor judgment may have been shrewd; under certain circumstances, leaving the scene of a crash carries lighter penalties than being caught driving drunk.
This wouldn’t have been the first time that Galluccio had too many drinks before getting behind the wheel, nor would it be his first alcohol-related crash. Galluccio has already been convicted twice of drunk driving; once he was granted a pardon. His driving record shows a pattern of recklessness and impunity.
State Senate President Therese Murray said in a statement that the Senate “is prepared to act’’ after the court rules on Galluccio’s criminal charges. But the Senate does not need to - nor should it - wait for his criminal case to conclude. Whether or not Galluccio is found guilty of the charges, all evidence suggests that the senator has an alcohol problem that endangers him and the public. His fellow senators should offer him an ultimatum: Seek treatment for alcoholism or resign.
