Middlesex DA Gerry Leone will not seek reelection in 2014

Last night's announcement by Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone that he will not appear on the 2014 ballot for re-election to DA or for any other elective office prompts me to write about politics rather than real estate today.  Leone was first elected in 2006, succeeding Martha Coakley who was elected Attorney General that year.  Leone was re-elected without opposition in 2010 to a second four year term.  His announcement has launched much speculation about possible successors. 

I'll refrain from dwelling too much on the future here other than to say that with the governorship, all Constitutional offices, all Congressional seats, and the US Senate seat now held by John Kerry but which will be the subject of a special election this summer all on the ballot and now with the Middlesex DA's office, the 2014 state election will be a historic one. 

Looking to the past, some notable names in Massachusetts politics have held the Middlesex DA's seat including Scott Harshbarger, Tom Reilly and Martha Coakley and two first assistant DA's went on to hold other offices: John Kerry and Marty Meehan.  So while not an automatic launching pad to higher office, the Middlesex District Attorney's position has been that for several of its occupants which will make the coming campaign all the more interesting.