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Drug conviction forces resignation of campaign manager in Lynn mayor's race

E-mail|Link|Comments () October 26, 2009 02:31 PM

By Kathy McCabe, Globe Staff

LYNN - A campaign manager for mayoral challenger Judith Flanagan Kennedy said he has resigned after the candidate became aware of his conviction on federal drug charges 18 years ago in Maine.

Dennis Liberge, 56, said he resigned as co-chairman of Kennedy's campaign on Friday night, after discussing his conviction on a conspiracy to distribute cocaine with Kennedy.

"I figured it was the thing to do," Liberge said in a telephone interview today. "I didn't want to become a distraction in the campaign."

A story about the conviction had appeared in The Daily Item of Lynn, after comments were posted on an election blog on the newspaper's website, www.itemlive.com

Liberge said he was indicted on a charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine in 1989. He was convicted at a 1991 trial in Portland, Maine. He later lost an appeal and served two years in federal prison in Allenwood, Pa., he said.

"I served my time," said Liberge. "I've done a lot to help people since coming back to Lynn."

Kennedy declined to comment when contacted by the Globe this morning. A spokeswoman for the US Attorney's office in Maine did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Liberge said his conviction stemmed from an incident in the 1980s, when he was living in Maine. "I was associated with some people, who they [the government] wanted to take down," Liberge said.

Liberge's resignation comes amid a bitter race for mayor between Kennedy and incumbent Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr.

On Saturday, Kennedy filed a complaint with the Lynn Police, alleging Clancy violated state election law by attaching a copy of her signature to one of his campaign fliers, stating that she favored raising property taxes. The flier cited an excerpt from a candidate's questionnaire issued by the North Shore Labor Council, which asked candidates to rank which taxes they would raise for revenues. The labor council has endorsed Kennedy.

The Globe reported in today's paper that Lynn police said they are investigating the complaint. Lynn police did not immediately return a call today seeking comment.

Liberge said Kennedy did not know of his conviction when she asked him to manage her campaign.

"I didn't feel an obligation to tell anybody," he said.

Liberge joined Kennedy's campaign after the sudden death in July of former Lynn Mayor Patrick J. McManus, who was running to regain the office he vacated in 2002. Kennedy launched a write-in campaign for mayor and finished first in the September primary, beating Clancy by 211 votes.