To the Editor:
On Nov. 6, voters will decide who will succeed Joe Sollitto’s 42-year tenure as clerk of courts. T. George Davis, the Democratic nominee, faces unenrolled candidate Anthony Piland. George is a graduate of Georgetown Law School, and has been a lawyer for 31 years, practicing full-time on Martha’s Vineyard since 2000. Anthony Piland is a physician’s assistant at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, and has no legal training or experience whatsoever. Only one candidate has the right skills and qualifications for this position.
When defending his seat against challenger attorney Daniel Larkosh in October 2006, Joe Sollitto (who is also an attorney) told the M.V. Gazette, “This is not a job that somebody can just jump in and do” … pointing to his own introduction as an assistant clerk in the early 1970s under the late Sophia Campos, who held the job for 57 years.
George Davis is a trial attorney, and as such he has spent countless hours in our courthouse. He has extensive firsthand knowledge of the court’s workings, and the foundation needed to ensure smooth operation of our county court system. George is also keenly aware of the impact of budgetary constraints, and has the insight needed to facilitate change.
The clerk of courts manages the Superior Court docket, assists the Superior Court judges in all aspects of court proceedings, adjudicates small claims cases, issues search warrants, and oversees and educates the jury pool, in addition to many administrative and ancillary functions. The bulk of the clerk’s day-to-day work, however, involves regular interaction with lawyers and judges about active cases, and smooth and effective communication with those professionals requires legal training and experience. In addition, many tasks require the ability to conduct prompt, accurate, and informed legal research, and to communicate back and forth with legal professionals on complicated issues. This is George’s wheelhouse, borne of his extensive training and experience.
A vote for T. George Davis is a vote for the experienced and most qualified candidate.
Jennifer W. Marcus
West Tisbury
