Former Salem Police Chief Paul Tucker To Lead Essex DA'S Office

SALEM, MA — Following an Election Night in which State Rep. Paul Tucker and Middleton attorney James O'Shea were often separated by less than a percentage point and fewer than 1,000 votes as totals mounted, it appears Tucker has pulled away in his bid to become the next Essex County District Attorney.

According to the Associated Press as of 10 a.m. on Tuesday, the former Salem Police Chief's gap opened to 55.1 percent of the vote, to 44.9 percent for O'Shea, with more than 95 percent of precincts reporting.

This was a race that became increasingly contentious in recent weeks with Tucker touting his experience in public service and his wide-ranging endorsements — including that of outgoing Essex DA Jonathan Blodgett — while O'Shea attacked Tucker for his lack of courtroom experience and cited his 24 years of practicing criminal law throughout Essex County as a reason he should earn the vote.

With no Republican challenger on the November ballot, Tucker's victory on Tuesday makes him the de facto candidate-elect for the Essex DA's seat.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)