Anne Manning-Martin.
BY ADAM SWIFT
PEABODY — With her experience, Anne Manning-Martin said she is the one candidate in a crowded field who will stand out in the race for Essex County Sheriff.
Manning-Martin, one of five Republicans on the Sept. 8 primary ballot, said she did not plan to run for the office until Sheriff Frank Cousins decided not to seek re-election. Cousins, a Republican from Newburyport, has held the office for the past 20 years. He earns $151,709 annually.
“I thought Sheriff Cousins would hold that office for years,” said Manning-Martin. “He has done such a good job moving the department forward.”
While she was surprised Cousins was retiring, Manning-Martin was not hesitant about stepping into the race once he made his announcement.
“The opportunity presented itself after 20 years of his good service and it was a natural step for me,” she said. “I’ll hit the ground running with my experience in corrections and municipal government.”
On the municipal government side, Manning-Martin has served as a councilor at large in Peabody for the past nine years. Before that, she was on the school committee for eight years.
Manning-Martin’s experience in corrections stretches back even further, with 13 years working for the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department before moving to a management position with the state Department of Corrections a dozen years ago. She is the deputy superintendent of the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital correctional facility in Boston.
“I have a huge head start with my qualifications, having spent 25 years in corrections,” she said. “It’s not something you pick up on quickly. There are too many moving parts with classification, security and budget issues.”
Manning-Martin said she will continue to expand many of the programs Cousins has advocated for.
“The opioid crisis will continue to be a focus, but it can’t be the only issue,” she said. “We cannot forget domestic violence, property crime and violence in the community. Criminal justice is about multitasking, we need to address all the issues simultaneously to better society.”
A large part of the sheriff’s role is managing the county’s correctional facilities, including the Essex County House of Corrections in Middleton.
“Within the walls, we need the right people in the right posts,” she said. “We need qualified, honest, smart people in those roles. There are thousands of individuals who either live there or work there, and they all need to be safe.”
But she said the sheriff’s role goes beyond what happens behind the jail walls. The department works with the community, as well as police and public works departments and state organizations, to improve the quality of life for all residents.
Manning-Martin pointed to her experience as an elected official who responds to the needs of her constituents as preparing her for the community service aspect of the job. As a school committee member, she said she was instrumental in bringing full-day kindergarten to Peabody, and as a city councilor, she supported GreenPeabody, which addresses environmental issues.
“If I didn’t believe I was the most qualified person for this position, I would not be running,” Manning-Martin said. “I have vast experience in every area of the position. I’ve been doing the job for years and managed hundreds of corrections officers and corrections professionals, holding staff and inmates accountable.”
Manning-Martin said she has budget experience as an elected official and as a manager of a corrections facility.
“There will be no learning curve with me,” she said. “I’ll be there on day one with experience and commitment to the community and to public safety.”
The other candidates on the Thursday, Sept. 8 Republican primary ballot include Kenneth Berg, a law enforcement officer from Danvers; Jeffrey Gallo, a lieutenant in the Essex County Sheriff’s Department; James Jajuga Jr., an attorney and Methuen police lieutenant; and Craig Lane, a sergeant in the sheriff’s department.
The six Democratic candidates on the ballot include William Castro of Methuen, a sergeant in the Essex County Sheriff’s Department; Lynn Police Chief Kevin Coppinger; Michael Marks of Lynn, Middleton Jail superintendent; Edward J. O’Reilly of Wenham, a defense attorney and former firefighter; retired Middleton Jail deputy superintendent Jerry Robito; and Paul Russell Jr. of Andover, a former Drug Enforcement Administration agent.
Independent candidates Mark Archer, an attorney and former state trooper, and Kevin Leach of Manchester-by-the-Sea will join the Republican and Democratic primary winners on the Tuesday, Nov. 8 general election ballot.
Adam Swift can be reached at [email protected].
