Leydon still speaking for himself in East Longmeadow government. (via Town of East Longmeadow)

One of the longest-serving government public affairs figures in the Springfield area has moved on. This week, James Leydon left the Hampden District Attorney’s office after nearly nine years as its public affairs director. The exit itself may seem unremarkable, but Leydon held one of the few major government spokesperson positions in the region amid upheaval in media itself.

Politically-connected and the same age as Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni—they attended Cathedral High School about the same time—it is unsurprising his tenure dates nearly to the DA’s election in 2014. The turn toward public relations from a generic government career came about halfway through his time working in another office with lots of comms traffic—that of Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno.

The State House News Service first reported Leydon’s departure Monday. On Thursday, an email to Leydon’s office account replied with a confirmation of his departure. By all accounts, his exit was voluntary and amicable.

Leydon, who became a town councilor in East Longmeadow this spring, did not respond to a request for comment.

Large institutions from colleges and hospitals to corporate behemoths have robust communications departments. Government in the 413 largely does not.

Every city with mayor has some staff that provide some communications support. However, relatively few experience volume of media inquiries to justify much or any dedicated public affairs staff.

Unless they chair a committee, House Reps’ only have their lone staffer to rely on. State Senators usually employ a communications director, but a large chunk of their work interfaces with state or Boston media. The few places with local comms needs on par with the DA or the City of Springfield are the Springfield Police Department, the Hampden Sheriff’s office or Congressman Richard Neal’s office.

Before Leydon crossed Court Square to work for Gulluni, he had left a mark on City Hall’s communications. Leydon had been constituent services director before taking over the comms brief from Thomas Walsh. It was Leydon’s urging along with that of then-mayoral staffer Darryl Moss, sources have said, that Sarno greenlighted the use of social media accounts. These now form an integral part of Sarno’s control over the narrative in the city.

Gulluni testifying in support of firearm legislation last year. Somewhat reserved by nature, his public image and that of his office has withstood a tumultuous decade fairly well. (via Facebook/Hampden DA)

While Leydon followed the party line, journalists covering City Hall appreciated that he would explain the administration’s machinations off the record. Reporters would complain such clarifications were not available after Leydon left 36 Court Street in 2015.

The Hampden DA’s office litigates in some of the commonwealth’s busiest criminal courts. Even with the decline of local media, an especially acute malaise in the lower Valley, there is a healthy demand for information about prosecutions. Many attract state and even national interest. Meanwhile, the wane of the region’s media institutions necessitates alternative means to disseminate information.

That presents a challenge to pols seeking to cement their reputations and deter electoral opposition. Many factors militate against challenging Gulluni, but a mostly positive public image is probably among them. While credit must also go to staff across the office, Leydon’s legacy may be establishing and preserving that perception of the three-term DA among many Hampden County voters.

That assessment is hardly universal. Critics place Gulluni—correctly, for the most part—on the more conservative side of criminal justice reform. The Supreme Judicial Court has rebuked the DA’s office for withholding evidence related to tainted police and not prosecuting cops. Yet, he has pursued diversion programs and court procedures.

Still, this balance, however imperfect, alongside well-executed press events announcing charging decisions, high-profile investigations or breakthroughs in cold case files has kept Gulluni in the good graces of Hampden County voters.

It is unclear what is next for Leydon. Yet, his career in government public relations can translate easily to the private sector. He already teaches a course at American International College. Both Western Mass and Connecticut teem with entities seeking better press coverage.

As for the DA’s office, it is advertising to fill Leydon’s role. The ultimate choice will have to steer the office and Gulluni’s reputation through ever volatile waters to reelection…and whatever lies beyond.