A small-town legislator with big financial support
Rep. Thomas M. Petrolati represents the voters of just one town in its entirety, Ludlow, along with parts of three other communities. But he attracts tens of thousands of dollars in political donations from probation officers across western Massachusetts largely because he has enormous sway over the agency's leadership. Until the Chief Justice for Administration suspended him in May, Probation Commissioner John J. O'Brien routinely pressed local hiring committees to give special consideration to Petrolati's preferred candidates. Today, 80 percent of the chief probation officers in 24 courts between Worcester and the New York border are financial backers of Petrolati, along with the majority of the assistant chiefs. Roll your mouse over each court to see the extent of Petrolati's financial support among probation and other court employees since 2002. | Related article - Full donor list
Donors by location
Hampden CountySuperior CourtProbate CourtJuvenile CourtDistrict Courts
Westfield
Springfield
Holyoke
Chicopee
Palmer
|
Hampshire CountySuperior CourtProbate CourtJuvenile Court
Shared with Franklin County
District Courts
Northampton
Eastern Hampshire
|
Franklin CountySuperior CourtProbate CourtJuvenile CourtDistrict Courts
No known donors
Orange
Greenfield
|
Berkshire CountySuperior Court
No known donors
Probate CourtJuvenile CourtDistrict Courts
Northern Berkshire
Pittsfield
Southern Berkshire
|
OtherOffice of the Commissioner
Probation Commissioner, suspended
Deputy Probation Commissioner
Chief Probation Officer
Supervisor, Probation Services
Community CorrectionsOther probation |