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Coin corruption
By adamg on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 8:24pm
The Globe reports that John Buonomo, Middlesex County registrar of probate, was arrested for stealing money from county copiers and change machines at the Registry of Deeds.
Why are registrars of probate still elected officials again? What great policy decisions are they expected to make? Apparently, whether to bring those coins to the bank or dump them all into a CoinStar machine.
Buonomo's official Web site. He is up for re-election this fall, but faces no opposition.
Innocent, etc.
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Background on John Buonomo
He was a longtime member of the Somerville Board of Alderman, as well as a two-time candidate for Mayor, losing close elections to Mike Capuano in 1989 and to Dorothy Kelly Gay in 1999.. At one time, he was considered part of the 'progressive' wing of Somerville politics. Here's his official biography.
I'm guessing that "cash machines" refers to change machines rather than ATMs, but I don't know for sure. Changers are often found near copiers, and it's likely the same key opened both. It's much less likely that he could open and steal from a bank ATM.
Cash machines
Yeah, you're probably right - looks like change machines, not ATMs, so I, um, changed the post.
His site says that he pays
His site says that he pays for the website for the probate court out of his own pocket, maybe this was his version of Robin Hood, steal from the rich change machines and produce a website for the "poor" lol
As for why it is still elected, some towns still have elected dog catchers, and library commissioners. I wonder what voter turnout is for those seats?
Interesting office
Richard Howe recaps the unusual history of the office of Middlesex County Registrar of Probate over the past 20 years, including:
Is it a good thing to have a will if you've nothing of value?...
Is it a good thing to have a will even if you've nothing of value?...
Middlesex Probate
http://www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/...
http://www1.whdh.com/features/articles/hank/BO19269/