SPRINGFIELD — The regional chapter of the State Police Association of Massachusetts formally endorsed Anthony Gulluni for Hampden County district attorney on Wednesday.
It was the second of two recent significant endorsements for Gulluni in the race. Last week, former Hampden District Attorney WIlliam Bennett endorsed Gulluni, himself an Assistant Hampden County district attorney.
Gulluni, 33, of Springfield, is among four Democrats running for the seat vacated by now-U.S. District Judge Mark Mastroianni. The other candidates are Holyoke attorney Shawn Allyn; Longmeadow attorney Hal Etkin; and former prosecutor Brett Vottero, of Springfield.
Jeffrey Gordon, the labor representative for Troop B, which encompasses all of Western Massachusetts, called member support for Gulluni overwhelming.
"The member outreach for Tony was far beyond any other candidate. The members like him. Guys I know who have had cases prosecuted by him have a great deal of respect for him," Gordon said after the public announcement at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The local chapter represents troopers and sergeants, and includes close to 200 members in Hampden County, Gordon said.
The trooper said he believes the union's endorsement is an important one as there is not a "super-powerful candidate in terms of support."
Indeed, support for the four candidates has emerged as fairly diffuse, with each carving out small pockets of boosters with a little over three weeks left in the campaign.
The primary election is scheduled for Sept. 9.
For his part, Gulluni said he was honored by the endorsement.
"I'm pleased that much of the support (from this union) comes through the professional relationships I've had with these troopers," he said.