Candidate for Chicopee City Council has criminal and civil court record
CHICOPEE — A candidate for public office has faced a slew of criminal and civil charges against him in Chicopee District Court.
Joseph Breton, 56, is running against incumbent Councilor Shane Brooks, who represents Ward 2.
Last year, Breton was accused of breaking and entering into a woman's building at nighttime, which is a felony charge, according to court dockets.
The case is still open, continued without a finding, with a coming court date in April.
When reached Thursday, Breton said it wasn't illegal for a person with a criminal history to run for public office .
Like other candidates running for City Council or School Committee positions already held by an incumbent or sought out by a newcomer, Breton was asked a series of questions about why he is running for office and the issues he'd like to address. The city's municipal election is Tuesday.
Breton, the owner of a property maintenance company in the city, said he is running to represent Ward 2 because "Chicopee deserves better."
The candidate said he takes issue with the way city employees have been treated by elected officials and hopes to use his experience negotiating union contracts to improve employees' wages.
"I will fight diligently to get the backbone of our city up to salaries they deserve," he said.
Breton said another goal he has is to encourage more economic development in Chicopee.
"Make Chicopee a place where small businesses want to come to and be able to stay," he said.
There are several other charges against Breton — all with varying dispositions — dating back to 2011. Breton has never been convicted of the alleged crimes.
Prosecutors dropped a case against Breton for allegedly violating a harassment and violence prevention order in March 2024, the dockets show. A jury in 2022 found Breton not guilty of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a person over 60 years old.
Additionally, there are five pending civil cases against Breton. Those include small claims, supplementary process, residential issues and money action claims, the docket says.
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