Suffolk ‘High Sheriff’ Steven Tompkins earns his Democrat credentials

Steve Tompkins was just trying to put the “high” back in “High Sheriff of Suffolk County.”

For that is indeed the erstwhile marijuana mogul’s official job title, at least for now.

He needed cash, apparently, because last year the High Sheriff “only” pocketed $215,430, including $22,626.15 in what the state comptroller describes as “leave buy back.”

Who knew an elected politician could claim “leave buy back?” But this is Massachusetts.

Tompkins got his start the way most future jailbird Democrat sheriffs get their start. He was another hack pol’s driver, appointed by a Democrat governor, in this case Deval Patrick, to fill a vacancy.

And now, just like clockwork, he’s been indicted.

Just like former High Sheriff of Middlesex, “Honest” John McGonigle, and Essex County sheriff Charles “Chuckles” Reardon, both appointed by Gov. Mike Dukakis.

First they ran jails, then they ended up inside one.

Steve Tompkins — the tradition continues.

Incidentally, during his catastrophic governorship, Dukakis appointed a third sheriff, Bob Garvey of Hampshire County. Garvey didn’t end up in durance vile, but he was fined $10,000 by the State Ethics Commission.

What a coincidence — Steve Tompkins has also been fined by the State Ethics Commission, a total of $14,800 over the years.

The tradition continues again.

Ethically, things had been looking up for the Democrat party in Massachusetts. No one had been arrested in three weeks, since Rep. John Lawn had an accident first on Bowdoin Street and then in his trousers at Sheriff Tompkins’ jail on Nashua Street.

And it had been 11 months since a Massachusetts sheriff was last arrested. That was Hampden County Sheriff Nick “Thirsty” Cocchi, who drove his state vehicle, with one tire missing and another flat, to the entrance of the MGM Casino in Springfield and then staggered into the casino.

As for this latest member of the Democrat Hall of Shame, the first time I ever saw Steve Tompkins, he was having a smoke in Brighton with his boss, the then High Sheriff of Suffolk County, Andrea Cabral.

Andrea later became a THC tycoon herself. At the time, I assumed they were enjoying Newports, but in retrospect, perhaps it was something else.

I never figured either of them for stoners, although if you looked at Andrea, you had to figure she knew something about munchies, if you know what I mean.

Supposedly Tompkins was “powerful” in Boston political circles. But it’s not reflected in his campaign accounts — his current cash on hand, according to the most recent OCPF report, is $4,400.27.

He ran his department as local sheriffs traditionally do — as a hackerama. Everybody who “worked” for him seems to have done the right thing.

Andrea Cabral also ponied up to her former driver. But then, after she got into the weed industry, she had to take care of the usual suspects.

Tompkins soon had his own stock options in a cannabis start-up. But this particular reparations grift didn’t work out, the feds allege. The High Sheriff demanded his initial $50,000 investment back from “Executive A.” Tompkins got five $10,000 checks.

First rule of running a successful extortion: Cash only! No checks!

Tompkins was lugged by the feds in Florida. It used to be, the Sunshine State was where the feds went when they wanted to arrest fugitive Boston gangsters. Now the G-men head down there to collar Massachusetts cops — sheriffs and crooked state troopers.

Not really that much of a change, when you think about it.

It appears he was attending a “training conference” of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives in Hollywood.

I hope his fellow Black Law Enforcement Executives observed a moment of silence for the High Sheriff at their banquet last evening. Isn’t it traditional among such august bodies to read a list of the departed since their last gathering?

The next question is, who’s in line to become the next High Sheriff?

I heard Boston city councilor Ed Flynn wants it, bad. Anything to get out of City Hall. Who can blame him, and for Maura Healey, he would represent the ultimate affirmative action candidate.

But seriously, Ed Flynn? Eddie, there used to be a saying in Boston — No Irish Need Apply. It again applies, now more than ever.

The heavy favorite to become the next High Sheriff is state Sen. Lydia Edwards of East Boston. Unlike poor Eddie, she checks almost every single DEI box, except one.

When Lydia was first running for the state Senate, she was forced to explain a dubious mortgage (which is usually a resume-enhancer in Democrat circles, just ask Tish James and Adam Schiff).

Her mortgage was in Chelsea, and she justified it by saying, “My intent was to start a family with my new husband.”

A husband? A family? Well, that doesn’t look very woke, does it? Not in Maura Healey’s Massachusetts. But Lydia cited mitigating circumstances — she quickly sold the property “as part of a painful divorce.”

Ah, that’s much better. Good career move, Senator.

Other than that single slight misstep into normality, Sen. Edwards’ Democrat credentials are absolutely in order.

Almost zero experience in Dreaded Private Sector? Check.

Phony-baloney do-nothing public jobs? Check. (“First deputy director, Boston’s Office of Housing Stability.”)

And most significantly, slobbering awards from the Boston Globe and failed Boston Magazine.