Middlesex County Register Buonomo resigns

John Buonomo, the Middlesex Register of Probate accused of stealing thousands of dollars from county office machines, resigned yesterday but his name will still appear on the Sept. 16 primary ballot.

Buonomo's lawyer, Michael Natola, confirmed Buonomo's resignation was official yesterday and said the register had made the decision "so that he can concentrate on his young family, take care of his two boys and so he can concentrate on addressing the criminal accusations that have been made against him.

"It's his feeling that he could no longer serve the citizens of Middlesex County effectively with the charges that have been brought against him," Natola said.

Buonomo, 56, who was unopposed on the ballot for the $110,000-a-year-job, faces more than 30 charges based on allegations he stole thousands of dollars from copy and money machines in the Cambridge office building where he works.

Brian McNiff in the Secretary of State's office said Buonomo still remains on the ballot and "if he wins the nomination, he would be the nominee" for the Democrats.

Former Newton mayor Thomas B. Concannon Jr. recently announced his write-in campaign for the seat in the Democratic primary.

Concannon, who served as mayor from 1994-97, lost the 2000 Democratic primary to Buonomo after a recount.

Concannon acknowledged he has a short campaign window, but is seeking a nomination for November's statewide election.

"I am going to try and get people to write my name in," Concannon said about making calls for his campaign. "It's going to be interesting, but it's worth a shot."

Other Middlesex politicians are also vying for the seat include Natick Republican John Lambert, who ran against and lost to Buonomo six years ago, and Somerville Alderman Sean O'Donovan, who said that although he is a registered Democrat, he might run as a Working Families Party candidate.

A challenger must receive at least 1,000 votes to have his or her name placed on the ballot in November. Democratic challengers must defeat Buonomo to move on to the November ballot.

Buonomo has pleaded not guilty to the charges and had said after his arrest he would not step down or withdraw from this November's election. Natola said yesterday there would be no public announcement of Buonomo's resignation.

Several calls were placed to the office of Register of Probate in Cambridge for comment but people answering the phone said no one would be available.

Buonomo, a Newton resident, was suspended without pay after an order from the state Supreme Judicial Court. Buonomo was charged with 18 counts of breaking and entering into a depository, eight counts of theft of public property and eight counts of larceny under $250. He is accused of taking money out of copy and money machines at the Registry of Deeds, which is in the same building as his office.

Buonomo's pre-trial hearing takes place Sept. 18, two days after the primary.