SALEM — Essex District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett announced on Wednesday he is not running for a sixth term this year, instead deciding to cap off a 20-year career as the North Shore’s top law-enforcement official.
Blodgett, a Peabody resident, said he came to the decision not to run over the holidays after consulting with his family.
“I want to leave on my own terms. Twenty years is a long time in this profession. I am very grateful,” he said.
Blodgett, who will be 68 when he leaves office next January, said he is not endorsing potential 2022 candidates for the DA’s job at this time.
State Rep. Paul F. Tucker of Salem declared his interest in seeking election to the DA’s job hours after Blodgett’s announcement. A Democrat and licensed attorney, Tucker has served the 7th Essex District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives since 2015. He was Salem police chief from 2009-2014 and worked closely with Blodgett and with his predecessor, former District Attorney Kevin M. Burke.
“I think my skill sets fit perfectly with the job,” Tucker said, adding he wants to continue Blodgett’s legacy of expanding ways the DA’s office can offer treatment options to people facing drug charges.
“There is so much to do working with people on the treatment side. Jon Blodgett is a phenomenal DA and a man of such integrity,” Tucker said.
Blodgett’s announcement adds to a list of prominent elected officials opting out of the 2022 reelection cycle, most notably Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, who announced in December their decision to not seek reelection.
Lynn state Rep. Daniel F. Cahill does not plan to run for district attorney and said Tucker’s life-long connection to Salem makes him a strong candidate for the job. He praised Blodgett’s service.
“He pours his heart and soul into his work. He will be sorely missed by the legal community,” said Cahill.
Responsible for overseeing a 168-person staff tasked with statutory authority under state law to investigate and prosecute crimes in 34 communities, Blodgett said his job has been “unrelenting” with a “nonstop pace” that has made sleeping with his phone within reach a nightly ritual.
He talked on Wednesday about aspects of his career that give him the most pride and disappointing trends he has seen evolve during his career. Blodgett said the debate over police reform is characterized by “intrenchment” with opposing sides barely budging from their positions.
“I will sit down with anyone to talk about reform. But reform can’t be slogans and cliches,” Blodgett said.
Social media, said the DA, “is not a positive influence in our society,” with the internet providing an all-too-easy means of launching criticism and misinformation.
Blodgett said his office’s success during his tenure includes helping to launch a drug-diversion program that helped more than 1,300 people charged with drug offenses start down the long road of substance-abuse treatment and rehabilitation.
He said the “All-Stars” program for children of substance abusers, which started at Breed Middle School in Lynn in 2016, has been an enduring success. The DA’s office worked with then-Lynn Superintendent of Schools Dr. Catherine C. Latham to start the program aimed at reducing truancy.
Blodgett and his wife, Judy, are parents of three children and grandparents of four.
“I know all their favorite songs and snacks,” he said.
Blodgett has deep Peabody roots. He was educated in city schools and City Hall was the site of his 2003 swearing in. He noted during that ceremony that he practiced law and got his start as an assistant district attorney within walking distance of Peabody City Hall.
