And Rightly So!

Gov. Mitt Romney yesterday launched an aggressive legal attack to remove Big Dig boss Matthew Amorello, accusing him of “serious mismanagement” and acting in disregard of the public interest.

In a brief filed with the state’s Supreme Judicial Court, Romney asks for an advisory opinion that would give him the legal firepower to remove Amorello because of “irreversible” errors in leading the $14.6 billion Big Dig.

This court should conclude that the governor has the power to remove the MTA chairperson for conduct consisting of mismangement, neglect of duty and/or fiscal irresponsibility,” Romney’s legal counsel, Mark Nielsen, wrote in the brief.

The move to oust Amorello comes after Romney twice asked for his resignation amid revelations of leaks and defects in the Interstate 93 tunnels. Amorello refused on both ocassions, telling the governor he intends to bring the project to completion.

“There is no issue of public safety. The tunnels are structurally safe,” Turnpike lawyers responded in their own brief to the court. “. . . For the first time in a long time the Central Artery Project is within budget and on schedule.”

The political battle over the Big Dig and Amorello’s management will land on a national stage Friday when the U.S. Congress begins hearings into construction errors plaguing the project. Expected to testify are Amorello, state Attorney General Tom Reilly, Bechtel officials and Kenneth Mead, inspector general of the federal Department of Transportation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.