Leone speaks to the News
By George P. Hassett

The only candidate on the ballot for Middlesex County District Attorney spoke at The Somerville News’ July 14 contributors meeting.
   Gerry Leone is likely to be the next chief prosecutor for the fifty-four cities and towns of Middlesex County but he said he prides himself on his similarities to the three previous occupants of the job — Scott Harshbarger, Thomas Reilly and Martha Coakley.

   ‚ÄúScott Harshbarger really began the tradition of excellence in that office, followed by Tom Reilly and Martha Coakley. I‚Äôm proud to have worked with all three and like to think of myself as being an amalgam of each of them as a prosecutor,‚Äù Leone said.
   Leone has worked as a lead prosecutor for the district attorney, attorney general and United States Attorney‚Äôs office prosecuting cases as diverse as Louise Woodward and the ‚Äúshoe bomber‚Äù Richard Reid. He was the first-ever Massachusetts anti-terrorism coordinator.   
  ‚ÄúThere isn‚Äôt anyone who has my experience prosecuting such a wide array of criminal cases,‚Äù he said.
   Leone said he viewed the district attorney as having three main roles — top prosecutor in the county, manager of a large public sector law office and a builder of programs to prevent crime, particularly for young people.
   He said he was most excited about building partnerships between people who are not used to working together such as human service agencies and public safety organizations.
   Leone had his own experience of combining two different ends of the criminal justice system before he even became a lawyer. While he was in law school at Suffolk University, he was also working as a counselor at the Pine Street Inn, a homeless shelter in Boston‚Äôs South End.
   ‚ÄúIt was an interesting way to learn about the criminal justice and still affects how I work to this day,‚Äù he said.
   Leone said he is excited about the chance to create prevention programs to deter young people from the lure of crime.
   ‚ÄúI really like school-based programs, probably because my father was a football coach and a remedial math teacher,‚Äù he said. ‚ÄúI didn‚Äôt grow up around lawyers. I grew up admiring educators and coaches.‚Äù
   The Middlesex County District Attorney‚Äôs office has led to quests for higher public office for Harshbarger, Reilly and Coakley. But Leone said being a simple prosecutor day in and day out will be enough for him.
   ‚ÄúI‚Äôm not into this for the politics,‚Äù he said. ‚ÄúI can‚Äôt wait to get back to work as a prosecutor. Things have always worked out for me. Not because I have had some grand plan but just because I went to work everyday and did my job.‚Äù