LAPLACE — Former St. John the Baptist Parish District Attorney Tom Daley died Saturday.

The veteran public servant was 61.

Following a successful showing in the November election cycle, where he garnered the most votes of those running for the D.A.’s seat, Daley announced his cancer had returned and he was withdrawing from a runoff election against Bridget Dinvaut.

During his time as district attorney, Daley oversaw one of the most productive and efficient district attorney’s offices the state. In the first five years of his term, the office prosecuted 109,033 cases; 7,862 misdemeanors, 2,316 felonies and 97,816 traffic citations. Additionally, 1,039 DWI cases were prosecuted with a 97.9 percent conviction rate.

“We were also recognized as being the best in Louisiana for child support enforcement in 2013,” Daley said during the summer of 2014.

He introduced a program to reduce the number of repeat offenders, enacted new procedures for identifying and offering assistance to offenders with substance abuse issues and spearheaded vast improvements to the D.A.’s office’s technology systems and Internet presence.

Daley was a licensed attorney for 36 years.

Previously, Daley was a judge for 18 years with service on the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal and as a district judge in St. John.

He was previously selected as Judge of the Year by the Louisiana Bar Foundation.

He is a past member of the Louisiana Judicial College, the Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Ethics and has taught law at Delgado and LSU.

For many years, Daley served as chairman of Keep St. John Beautiful and the St. John Shade Tree Committee.

He is a past member of the 4-H Foundation and a former president of the Belle Terre II Civic Association.

Daley and his wife Margaret were married for more than 32 years and have two adult children. Daley was a parishioner of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, where he volunteered as a Catechism teacher.

In announcing his departure from public service in November, Daley told L’OBSERVATEUR his election withdrawal was based on direct advice of his neurosurgeon.

“I have received positive support and concern from the community in St. John, both in prayers and well wishes,” Daley said at the time. “I appreciate that, especially the prayers.

“I thank (community members) for their help and support. I had the privilege to help serve the citizens of St. John Parish for 29 plus years. I’m grateful for the opportunity.”