North End State Rep. Michlewitz focuses on community, not former boss DiMasi’s legal fallout

NORTH END — Aaron Michlewitz was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives under less-than-ideal circumstances. Following Salvatore DiMasi's resignation as Speaker of the House and Representative of the 3rd Suffolk District, Michlewitz took the seat of his friend, former representative and one-time boss in June 2009. DiMasi's sentence of eight years on corruption charges recently ended the trial process, but especially for DiMasi's neighbors in the North End, closure is complex.

Michlewitz himself had a personal and professional interest in the former Speaker's fate. He was DiMasi's Constituent Services Director for four and a half years, and was also a neighbor and constituent for 30 years.

"I think it does give some closure," said Michlewitz of the sentencing. "I think there's still a lot of people that are just uncertain of how we got to this point, and I think that for that we may never find closure as a community." For constituents in the North End, the struggle to move on was particularly acute. "A lot of us knew Sal personally," Michlewitz said in an interview at his State House office. "There's more to it than what you just read in the paper when it comes down to things."

Michelwitz avoided making direct comment on the kickback scheme engineered by his former boss and how the unfolding criminal investigation impacted his day-to-day workings and morale. He did not attend DiMasi's trial at the Moakley Federal Courthouse in South Boston, at which DiMasi was sentenced to eight years in prison for steering millions of dollars in state contracts to a software company and pocketing $65,000 in a kickback scheme.

While Michelwitz stopped short of making critical comments about DiMasi's criminal behavior, he struck a regretful tone when he said: "One of the biggest shames of it all is that what's transpired will forever overshadow any of that good that he did."

Jason Aluia, Michlewitz's childhood friend and one-time colleague on DiMasi's staff, said his former boss's actions created challenges for Michlewitz as the new representative. "The unfortunate issues around Sal DiMasi's trial and conviction and sentencing put a dark cloud over, obviously, him and his family, but also a lot of us who worked for him," said Aluia.

But with work, Michlewitz said he has set himself apart from his predecessor's indiscretions by constantly being available to his constituents.

"When I took office, that was one of the things I wanted to really accomplish was the accessibility factor, because the fact is the former Rep was the Speaker of the House, and when you're the Speaker of the House you deal with a lot more issues than just neighborhood district issues," said Michlewitz. "The North End's a little easier because I live there, so people can find me on a daily basis. It's not very hard. Most people know where I live. A lot of people have my cell phone number."

Tom Connolly, a North End resident, said Michlewitz is a visible presence in the neighborhood. "I've asked for advice and he's always right there and gives great advice, always points you in the right direction if you need help as far as the neighborhood's concerned," said Connolly. A group of ladies sitting outside a shop on Hanover Street pointed to Michlewitz's condominium and said they, too, know him personally.

Michlewitz rarely sets foot in public without being approached by a constituent, according to Aluia. "The line is blurred between public and private, and he handles it very well," said Aluia. "People do call him, people stop by his house, and if we're out having dinner or we're out having a beer, you know, there's always a chance that people will stop him, ask him questions."

Aluia explains that many of Michlewitz's connections were made before he was an elected official. "Before he even was a Rep or even worked for Sal – that's what we call DiMasi – he was a coach, he was on the North End/Waterfront Neighborhood Council, he worked for the City of Boston Special Events, so he always was an active member of the community," said Aluia. "The North End is a very close-knit neighborhood, and having grown up in that atmosphere, people knock on your window if you they have a problem… If their grandson needs a job or there [are] potholes on this street."