Leone's DA seat opens up field of potential candidates

One day after Middlesex County district attorney Gerry Leone announced he's not running for re-election and is leaving government service altogether a field of potential candidates is beginning to open up for the seat.

Among them, former Middlesex County prosecutor and current Mass. Rep. David Linsky, of Natick.

FULL TEXT: Middlesex DA Gerry Leone's remarks to staff

"I'm interested," said Linksy, "I'll look at it. Anybody's who's worked in that office for as long as I did has to be interested in it."

Others include Middlesex County sheriff Peter Koutoujian, former Mass. Rep. Charley Murphy and Mass. Sen. Eileen Donoghue, of Lowell.

"I think a lot of people are going to be interested in this seat," said Donoghue."It's such an important seat. Certainly I would have an interest in looking at it."

The Middlesex County district attorney is a high-profile job. It can open a path to future positions, like the Attorney General and beyond.

"Scott Harshbarger became Attorney General, Tom Reilly became Attorney General and before that John Kerry was the first assistant," said Linsky.

The job is certainly no guarantee of a future position, however.

Tom Reilly failed in his bid for Mass. Governor, and Attorney General Martha Coakley ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate.

Coakley has said she plans to seek re-election for Attorney General, though this week did not rule out a possible run for governor.

The Middlesex DA's office is a coveted position, in part because of the sheer size of the county – with 1.5 million people living there.

Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian isn't closing the door to a possible run.

In a statement he says he loves his current job, but will "never say never."

The seat opens up in 2014 the same year Massachusetts will vote for a governor and a U.S. Senator.

FULL TEXT: Middlesex DA Gerry Leone's remarks to staff

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