CONLEY’S NEXT MOVE
Suffolk DA may have higher office in sights
Suffolk District Attorney Dan Conley’s surprise decision to step down next year opens up a plum seat that likely will draw a crowd of contenders, but also positions Conley to run for higher office in the future.
The 16-year veteran DA gave no indication of his future plans while making his announcement, but his credentials and experience could make him a prime candidate for statewide office or Congress.
In a message on his Twitter feed, Conley didn’t offer a specific reason for giving up his office, saying only that “those of us fortunate enough to lead must also give others the same opportunity.”
But Conley has a long career in elective politics and has shown ambitions for higher office. He ran unsuccessfully for Boston mayor in 2013, finishing a dismal fourth, and that experience was a stinging disappointment. Before becoming DA, Conley served as a Boston city councilor.
Now Conley has time to think about his next career move. Even if he takes a break and goes into the private sector, Conley could still be a viable candidate in the next few years.
His “smart-on-crime approach” to reserve jail cells for the most violent or repeat offenders has drawn praise in the law enforcement community.
And he can point to processing 35,000 criminal cases a year.
In an email to his staff, Conley wrote that Massachusetts “is one of just six states to reduce crime and incarceration by more than 25 percent over the past eight years.”
Sounds like a campaign platform. But Conley’s political options are limited right now. Conley could wait until Attorney General Maura Healey runs for higher office, then try for the AG seat. Or he could run for lieutenant governor or governor in 2022.
Conley’s decision to vacate the DA’s office will likely set off a scramble for one of the most coveted political offices in Boston and surrounding communities.
District attorneys are some of the most powerful positions in the state, overseeing thousands of criminal cases and often putting the DA in the limelight.
Boston City Councilor Michael Flaherty — never one to shy away from a race — has already announced his interest in the DA’s race. And there could be other councilors or state reps who have interest in the seat.
The timing is also right for a reformer candidate, one who most likely would stick to the ACLU line of reducing incarceration rates and eliminating mandatory minimum sentences.