SALEM — State Rep. Paul Tucker (D-Salem) announced Wednesday that he will be running for Essex County district attorney to replace retiring District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett.
Tucker has been a practicing attorney for 21 years, a member of the Massachusetts Bar, a college adjunct professor and former police academy public-safety instructor.
He holds a Juris Doctorate in Law, and both master’s and bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice.
Tucker has served the 7th Essex District as a state representative serving on the Public Safety/Homeland Security, Judiciary, and Mental Health/Substance Use Disorder and Recovery committees.
Tucker said he shares Blodgett’s strong commitment to holding criminals accountable, securing justice for victims of crime, providing services and drug treatment to non-violent offenders, and engaging the community in crime prevention.
“For decades, the Essex County District Attorney’s Office has set the standards for integrity, innovation and effective pursuit of justice,” Tucker said. “I am running for district attorney to uphold those high standards and to continue building upon that unwavering commitment to seek justice.”
Tucker also co-chaired the Special State Commission on adolescent crime, and worked in partnership with the district attorney, Essex County sheriff, municipal chiefs of police, and local nonprofit organizations to strengthen and improve the criminal-justice system.
A former Salem police chief with administrative skills managing a department of more than 100 employees and a budget exceeding $10 million annually, Tucker is also a Salem Police Medal of Valor recipient.
Previously serving as director of the North Shore Drug Task Force and member of the Board of Directors of the New England Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association, Tucker is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, the 2010 New England Law Enforcements Executive Development Seminar, and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Advanced Narcotics Investigation.
“I welcome this opportunity to put my criminal-justice background, law-enforcement training, and administrative and management experience to work to lead Essex County’s ‘People’s Law Office,'” Tucker said.
Tucker said he supports continued close collaboration with the Department of Children and Families, local police and school departments, and community groups to address the serious problems of child abuse, domestic violence, opiate addiction, and elder abuse.
He is an active community leader, a husband to his wife, Ann, and a father to his three children.
