"Mr. Walsh expressed his concerns to Representative Velis that he did not have a clinical background," the report concluded, noting that Walsh had been pursuing a casino security post in Springfield. "But Representative Velis assured Mr. Walsh that this was not a requirement for the job."
Velis was later appointed to a legislative oversight committee tasked with examining the Holyoke Soldiers' Home outbreak.
STATEMENT BY CECILIA CALABRESE:
“In typical Beacon Hill fashion, Sen. Velis was somehow appointed by leadership to serve on a committee charged with investigating the disaster that his own hand-picked superintendent was responsible for causing. Bennett Walsh should never have been appointed to such a crucial leadership position, yet that's exactly what happened because of his family's political connections, and Sen. Velis was the one who led the way to make his disastrous hiring a reality.
Even Bennett Walsh admitted he was not qualified for the job, but that apparently was less of a priority for Velis than his desire to gain favor with a family with 'strong political connections,' as revealed in the report.
I'm glad that the SJC is taking a closer look at the decision to drop criminal charges, and I hope they ask Sen. Velis what made him think Bennett Walsh was the right candidate to lead a medical center responsible for the care of America's veterans."
