Candidate's manager has a little secret.

Byline: Dianne Williamson

COLUMN: DIANNE WILLIAMSON

Democratic State Senate candidate Michael O. Moore said he wasn't aware that his campaign manager, Joseph C. Martin III, was the subject of a scathing state report last year slamming his management of day care centers that cater to low-income children.

The 22-page report from the state Department of Early Education and Care said that Mr. Martin, who took over the troubled Pakachoag Acres Day Care Center from his parents in 2005, failed to address problems of "substandard" child care at the center's now-closed Charlton site. The report also found that Mr. Martin violated an agreement with the state, failed to properly communicate with parents, and allowed the Auburn facility to deteriorate to the point "where serious health and safety concerns existed."

In January of 2007, Mr. Martin reported that some of his staff had improperly restrained children during meals by tying them to chairs with scarves, according to the report. The report also found that Mr. Martin "had not been regularly available and his whereabouts were often unknown" during the state investigation.

Mr. Martin ran unsuccessfully for Auburn School Committee in 2006 and was tapped as Mr. Moore's volunteer campaign manager in March, a year after the state issued sanctions against the nonprofit Pakachoag.

Mr. Moore, the Democratic nominee for the 2nd Worcester Senate District, said his campaign manager only told him about his problems at Pakachoag on Thursday, after a reporter called him.

"If he did something inappropriate, I'd have concerns," Mr. Moore said. "I haven't seen the report, but he said he took appropriate action."

Asked if he was concerned that Mr. Martin failed to disclose the state's findings, Mr. Moore said, "If there were any issues where he was guilty of neglect or mismanagement, then I would have hoped he would have informed me."

Mr. Martin is the executive director of Pakachoag. He took the helm after the state filed a civil complaint in 2004 against his parents, Joseph Jr. and Sandra Martin, accusing them of submitting false financial reports and of misusing state reimbursements. The couple eventually reached a settlement to pay back nearly $700,000 to the state.

Last week, Mr. Martin and the chairman of the Pakachoag board, Matteo Gentile, said most of the problems with the centers have been addressed and that they're running smoothly. Mr. Martin said the majority of the complaints focused on the Charlton center, which has been closed. Mr. Martin also oversees day care centers in Auburn and Millbury, in addition to about 20 family day care homes.

Mr. Martin also claimed that many of the state findings were "false" and unfair.

"I wanted to appeal, but I was prohibited by my board from addressing the findings," Mr. Martin said. Asked why he didn't tell Mr. Moore about the situation, he said "To me it wasn't really an issue. It was something that happened and it was being addressed."

On Friday, the state DEEC said that a freeze on enrollment was lifted in January. Pakachoag has hired a consultant and has submitted a corrective action plan and the consultant continues to provide monthly reports to the state.

"While some issues remain, the program is in the process of correcting problems they have had in the past," said DEEC spokesman Matthew Veno. "There are no open complaints against the program."

Mr. Martin receives a salary of $82,000 to run Pakachoag. Most of the more than 110 children enrolled in the Auburn and Millbury programs are subsidized or receive state vouchers.

Mr. Gentile, board chairman for more than a year, said he believed the state report was "politically charged" but was vague on details.

"I think someone has an ax to grind against the center," he said. "It looks like the person who wrote the legal orders was angry."

Mr. Moore, an assistant deputy jail superintendent, is running against Republican John Lebeaux, a Shrewsbury selectmen. The seat is now held by Edward M. Augustus Jr., who is not seeking re-election.

Contact Dianne Williamson via e-mail at [e-mail]