My experience is a strength that uniquely qualifies me to be District Attorney. While my opponents are both seasoned politicians with decades in the Massachusetts legislature, neither can claim the experience I acquired during my tenure as a trial prosecutor in Superior Court. Nor can they possibly share the invaluable perspective I gained from working with victims of the worst crimes.

When a victim is brave enough to seek justice in the courts, the path toward the ordeal of testifying at trial is usually agonizingly slow. As the prosecutor on these cases, it's been a transformative experience working with those victims from the beginning of an investigation to the almost-always-delayed trial.

We prosecutors know that the trial date will eventually come. That's not so clear to the victims, who may or may not come to court on each of a case's many scheduled dates, but who live with the criminal case every day and suffer the delays. Keeping those victims focused, assuring them that, despite the defense maneuvers, the court's unavailability, the seemingly endless motions, the trial will come and they will have their day to be heard and their chance to be believed, all of that is part of the job of the District Attorney.

With the powerful assistance of victim witness advocates, a prosecutor develops a relationship with the victim during the investigation and prosecution. It's not always a happy relationship; there is often frustration. Usually, the day of the sentencing or the day of the jury's decision is the last time the prosecutor and victim see each other. Quite often, victims write to prosecutors after the cases are officially closed. I treasured those notes, cards, and letters.  I put them where they faced me at my desk, reminding me each day of the living, feeling people behind every case and the difference a prosecutor can make. They helped make the frustrating days better. See the letters and cards below.