Norfolk County's already-heated race for district attorney turned up the temperature Friday, as candidate Djuna Perkins said she filed formal complaints accusing rival Adam Deitch of aiming political emails at government inboxes used by public employees. Perkins said more than a dozen public employees in nine towns contacted her about the messages, and that at least one follow-up email included explicit fundraising language, a move she argues crosses a bright legal line in a race for an open seat.
Complaints Land With State Watchdogs
Perkins filed complaints with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign & Political Finance and the State Ethics Commission, according to the Franklin Observer. That outlet published excerpts of the emails and reported that Perkins had heard from public employees in nine cities and towns, which she says shows the outreach was not a one-off glitch.
One excerpt highlighted by the Franklin Observer included the line that campaigns "need resources and infrastructure to win." Perkins argues that sort of language, sent to taxpayer-funded addresses, crossed into improper political solicitation of public employees.
Deitch Camp Denies Crossing the Line
The Deitch campaign insists nothing illegal happened. Spokesman Andrew Destefano told the Franklin Observer that "Adam is committed to strict compliance with any and all rules and laws governing political campaigns," and the campaign called Perkins' move disappointing.
The campaign suggested the complaint is more political hardball than ethics crisis, but in that same statement did not spell out exactly how the email list was built or targeted. With Perkins' complaints now filed, questions about intent and targeting move from campaign spin to the desks of state regulators.
Open Seat, Big Money and Extra Scrutiny
The dust-up comes as longtime district attorney Michael Morrissey steps aside, opening a rare vacancy and drawing multiple contenders along with closer public scrutiny. Deitch has an early edge in fundraising, according to The Boston Globe, which reported he had raised more than $110,000 after entering the race.
His campaign materials also state that he will not accept donations from employees of the DA's office, per the Deitch campaign. That stance helps explain why any perceived political outreach to public employees is especially sensitive in a contest that both candidates cast as being about rebuilding trust in the office.
The Rules Around Public Resources
State law in Massachusetts bars public employees from using government resources, including official email accounts, for political activity. Those restrictions are enforced by the State Ethics Commission and the Office of Campaign & Political Finance.
The State Ethics Commission notes that complaints remain confidential while under review. OCPF enforces Chapter 55 and investigates potential misuse of public resources for campaign purposes. If either agency finds a violation, it can pursue corrective orders or fines, although these investigations often take time to resolve and rarely move at campaign-season speed.
What Comes Next in the DA Battle
With Perkins' paperwork in, it is now up to state agencies to decide whether to open formal inquiries and whether any sanctions are warranted. The timing could matter. The primary calendar for the Norfolk County race means that any findings could quickly become fodder on the trail as candidates gather signatures and court voters, according to The Boston Globe.
For now, Perkins says she brought the complaints to protect public employees and the integrity of the DA's office. Deitch's team maintains that he is following the law as the contest for Norfolk County's top prosecutor job gets rougher by the week.
