Paul J. Ellison

Paul J. Ellison (July 17, 1940 – January 20, 1988) was an American politician who served on the Boston School Committee from 1972 to 1976. In 1976, he was convicted of larceny for endorsing and cashing checks made out to his assistants.

Early life Ellison was born on July 17, 1940. He graduated from The English High School in 1958 and went on to attend Boston University. From 1962 to 1963 he served in the United States Marine Corps and was discharged with a hearing disability.

After unsuccessful campaigns for state representative in 1968 and school committee in 1969, Ellison won his first election in 1971 when was elected to the Boston School Committee. On January 3, 1972, Ellison began working as a legislative aide to three state representatives from Boston (Royal L. Bolling, Carter Kimbrel, and Franklin W. Holgate). On January 19, 1972, Speaker David M. Bartley fired Ellison effective January 31 - two months before his trial period was to end. According to one Kimbrel, Ellison "was never there". Later that year, he was hired as a probation officer by Judge Jerome P. Troy. He later served as chief clerk to the Registrar of Probate, James W. Hennigan Jr.

Ellison was reelected in 1973. On December 18, 1974, Ellison, John J. Kerrigan, and John J. McDonough, were held in civil contempt by Judge W. Arthur Garrity Jr. after refusing to approve a citywide busing plan. The trio was fined $500 a day until they approved the plan. Ellison was a candidate for chairman of the board in 1975. After a 2–2 tie with John J. McDonough, Kathleen Sullivan cast the deciding vote in favor of McDonough.

Legal issues In 1962, Ellison was found guilty of driving without a license. Between 1968 and 1972, Ellison was summoned to court seven times over complaints regarding unpaid debts. In 1970 he was acquitted in a case where he was charged with assault and battery on a cab driver. That same year he was arrested in Bourne, Massachusetts for drunkenness and accepted guilt in a civil case regarding a car crash in Boston. On July 29, Suffolk County District Attorney Garrett H. Byrne announced that his office would investigate the Globe's allegations against Ellison. One day later, U.S. Attorney James N. Gabriel announced that the Internal Revenue Service was investigating as well. On May 21, 1975, a Suffolk County grand jury indicted Ellison on larceny charges. Ellison pled not guilty and was released on personal recognizance. He alleged the charges against him were "a conspiracy" by "probusing and liberal forces".

On July 1, Ellison and his attorney, Daniel J. O'Connell Jr., were indicted on witness tampering charges for allegedly asking two witnesses to perjure themselves before the grand jury. On February 2, 1976, Ellison was found not guilty of the witness tampering charges. On November 24, 1976, Ellison was found guilty of larceny. He was sentenced to two years in the Norfolk House of Corrections. He began his sentence on December 8, 1976. On July 7, 1977, while on a prison furlough, Ellison filed his candidacy for the Boston City Council. He finished 18th out of 30 candidates in the 1977 Boston City Council election. On August 12, 1977, the Massachusetts Appeals Court upheld Ellison's larceny conviction. On December 8, 1977, Ellison was released on parole.

Later life He was an unsuccessful school committee candidate in 1979, 1981, and 1987. In 1982, he was charged with driving under the influence following a motor vehicle accident. On January 20, 1988, Ellison died at Boston City Hospital. He was 47 years old.