City Councilor Daniel Conley (Hyde Park, Roslindale) left his office in City Hall yesterday after acting Gov. Jane Swift selected Conley to fill the vacancy at Suffolk County district attorney Tuesday.
The councilor succeeds Ralph C. Martin II, who stepped down in January to pursue a private practice. Conley will serve as interim district attorney until November, when the position is up for election.
Swift swore Conley in Tuesday in a ceremony at the State House. The acting governor praised Conley’s depth of experience as a Suffolk County prosecutor who worked as assistant district attorney in Suffolk before serving five terms as city councilor.
“The governor believes Mr. Conley’s background both in private practice and his experience as assistant district attorney in the Suffolk DA office would make a great combination,” said Sarah Magazine, spokeswoman for the acting governor.
Conley will continue to campaign for the full-time slot, which is also being pursued by fellow Councilor Brian Honan (Allston-Brighton), former Middlesex prosecutor Eddie Jenkins, former Suffolk prosecutors Timothy O’Neill and Michael Pomarole and one-time federal prosecutor William Sinnott.
Dan Cence, Conley’s campaign manager, said Swift’s decision bodes well for Conley’s bid for election and shows the acting governor’s faith in his abilities to perform as district attorney. However, Conley will continue to pursue the job with equal intensity, Cence said.
“He was yesterday, and is now, the best qualified for the position, and we will move forward to prove that even now,” Cence said. “I believe the governor feels that as well, as that why she chose him. I don’t believe politics was a factor at all.”
Conley’s campaign has met with a degree of resistance from a number of residents. Among other groups who have criticized the candidate, the Boston Police Patrolman’s Association issued Conley a vote of “no confidence” prior to his selection as interim DA. Conley and the BPPA quarreled over legislation in 1995 regarding the powers of college police forces.
“The Boston patrolmen are going to have to work with Dan Conley because he is district attorney,” Cence said. “He looks forward to working with them and forging alliances.”
According to Liz Sullivan, a spokeswoman for Mayor Thomas Menino, a special election will be held within 60 days to fill Conley’s council seat. Possible contenders for the position include Rob Consalvo, who ran unsuccessfully for an at-large seat last November, and Menino aide Tim McCarthy.
Consalvo placed fifth in last year’s at-large race, falling short of attaining one of the four spots.
McCarthy, executive director of Boston Youth Fund, which locates summer jobs for local teens, finalized his decision to run yesterday. While he said a long race could hinder his chances due to his responsibilities with the city program, he said he intends to organize his own campaign.
“In a race like this, in a special election, all the candidates that do get in are probably going to take care of themselves,” he said. “I’m going to run my own campaign, run on things I believe need to be changed in Hyde Park and Roslindale.”
McCarthy said he intends to hold a number of fundraisers to establish his campaign but expects money to play a limited role in the race.
“I don’t think in a small race like this there’s really time to get a large financial committee. I think a lot of it is going to be friends and family,” McCarthy said. “I don’t think this is really going to be a money-raising race. I think it’s going to be about who gets to the people and who sends the better message in a short amount of time.”
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