Meet the candidates: Tom Leonard
ALPENA, Mich. — In the lead up to this Friday’s Attorney General debate, we’re taking the time to introduce you to the candidates. Today: former representative Tom Leonard.
After earning his law degree from Michigan State University, Tom Leonard worked for several years in the Genessee County court system. However, he said it wasn’t until he clerked for judge Jennie Barkey that he found what would become his trademark issue.
“Judge Barkey, for the past 15 years, has had nearly a hundred people a year in her mental health court. These are people who are out finishing their G.E.D.s, finishing their diplomas, they’re out looking for jobs. But most importantly, they now have a support system in place, and they’re back on their medication.”
Leonard said Barker’s system made such an impact on him that he wanted to implement it across the state. In the state house, he went on to advocate for mental health reform, as well as serve on the insurance committee. He even served as speaker of the house and ran for attorney general in 2018.
If he takes office, Leonard said he wants to change the state’s approach to criminal justice.
“As Republicans, we always talk about being tough on crime or criminal justice reform. But a lot of times we only want to talk about it on the back end. But i believe we need to talk about it on the front end, and mental health reform would be a big, big step.”
Leonard said he also wants to divorce the office from party politics and crack down on what he calls “rogue prosecutors.” Leonard is one of three AG candidates taking the stage in a debate at Alpena Community College this Friday at 6 PM.
