Mary Moriarty's Twitter profile says she's retired.
Her most recent post has a different message.
"I was retired," Moriarty told WCCO's Sheletta Brundidge after announcing early Monday her intentions of running for Hennepin county attorney following three decades as a public defender.
"This was not a decision I made lightly," Moriarty said. "But I'm not ready to retire, and I still have something to contribute to the community."
Moriarty's career includes six years as the chief public defender in Minnesota's most populous county, a position she left in 2020 after the Minnesota Board of Public Defense voted not to renew her contract.
"Trust in the Hennepin County attorney has really, really eroded, and I want to, I could say restore that trust," she said. "But, I think there are actually many in the community that never had that trust in the first place."
Moriarty also talked about how she can make a difference in the post.
"I also have a passion for racial justice and criminal justice reform, so, I thought, what's the best way that I can contribute to the community," she said. "And really, the position of Hennepin County attorney was it."
Her announcement comes after current county prosecutor Mike Freeman announced he would not seek re-election.