Concord attorney Mara Dolan is a public defender running for Governor’s Council, an eight-member board that meets weekly to advise the governor on pardons and commutations, plus appointments of judges, members of the Parole Board, and others.
When elected, Mara will bring a welcome level of professionalism to this position. She will be the only attorney who is not a prosecutor. With more than 15 years of courtroom experience, Mara knows what works and what doesn’t work in criminal justice. It’s her vision that everyone who leaves court will feel that they have been treated fairly, with equal justice under the law. Judges must treat the people who appear before them with respect, model healthy conflict resolution, and be exceptional examples of our government.
Mara says, “We must have judges who respect the science around addiction, as far too many who need recovery are taken into custody following relapse. It’s expensive, it doesn’t work, and often it makes recovery even harder. Additionally, we must have judges who respect the science around brain development in children and emerging adults, so that we don’t treat a 13-year-old the way we would treat a 35-year-old.”
After Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, the incumbent voted to confirm an anti-choice Superior Court judge. Unlike her, Mara will make certain that all nominees are pro-choice before she votes yes.
Mara has so many powerful endorsements, I think she ran out of room on her campaign literature!
In the absence of a contender other than the incumbent, the outcome of this race will be finalized on Primary Day, September 3. Please make the effort to vote in the Democratic primary. Your vote to elect Mara Dolan will make a positive difference in people’s lives.
Joyce Isen
Wright Farm
