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State Rep. Christopher M. Markey plans to formally announce a bid for Bristol County District Attorney next week.
In an interview with The Light, Markey praised current District Attorney Thomas Quinn III, who announced on Tuesday that he would not seek reelection. Both are Democrats.
“He listened to people,” Markey said. “He stood firm on tough cases. He knew how to get the bad guys — he still knows how to get the bad guys.”
Markey did not go into detail about how he would lead the office. He said he would share more after a formal announcement on Jan. 31.
His announcement would make him the second candidate to join the race for this now-open seat. Former Fall River City Administrator Seth Aitken, a Republican, has been campaigning since August, calling for more transparency and more resources to manage high caseloads in local district courts. Markey declined to comment on Aitken’s campaign.
“I’m not focused on what he’s saying,” he said. “I’m focused on what I can do.”
Markey lives in Dartmouth and has been a state representative for the 9th Bristol district, covering Dartmouth and much of New Bedford’s North End, since 2011. He’s the son of the late former New Bedford Mayor Jack Markey.
He started working in the district attorney’s office in 1991 as a victim witness advocate and was promoted to second assistant district attorney by the time he left the office in 2007. That “unique experience,” along with his understanding of the law from his time as a state representative, would shape his leadership as district attorney, he said.
Candidates intending to run for county offices this year must file nomination papers by April 28. The primary will take place on Sept. 1 and the general election will be held on Nov. 3.
The district attorney’s office and Quinn’s campaign have not responded to requests for comment following Quinn’s announcement that he planned to step down.
Email Grace Ferguson at gferguson@newbedfordlight.org
