SOUTHAMPTON – The Democratic candidate for a state senate seat issued a statement Friday alleging bullying by Republicans in an effort to get him to end his campaign.
J.D. Parker-O’Grady of Southampton, who is challenging incumbent State Sen. Donald F. Humason, R-Westfield, for the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire senate seat, says that alleged actions by employees in the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs created a hostile work environment for his fiancee, Cynthia Lewis, a program coordinator for the Massachusetts Environmental Police.
“Neither my fiancee nor I asked for any of this situation, but she fully supports me in my determination to face this situation head on and not allow the heavy-handed tactics that the Republicans have engaged in to bully me into dropping out of the race,” Parker-O’Grady said. “The Republican Party does not own this seat. It belongs to the people of the district.”
Gov. Charlie Baker has promised a quick and thorough investigation into the allegations, which according to a cease-and-desist letter sent by Lewis’ former attorneys include asking Lewis, of Jamaica Plain, to move from the Boston office to one in Fall River, denying her sick leave time and telling her to break off her relationship with Parker-O’Grady. Humason said he, too, supports this investigation.
Parker-O’Grady said he isn’t sure whether any laws were broken.
“I will leave it to others and the courts to determine whether anyone violated any civil or criminal laws relative to the actions taken against my fiancee,” he said.
“I do not want this situation to become an issue between Mr. Humason and myself,” he stated. “My preference has always been and continues to be to focus on the issues affecting the district, funding for public education, treatment programs for the opioid epidemic and the need for greater economic development.”
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
