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Ex-Mass. Senator Released On Parole

A former Massachusetts state senator who blamed toothpaste for failing alcohol screenings was released on parole Wednesday and said he has no immediate plans to return to politics.

Anthony Galluccio, a Cambridge Democrat, had served about half his sentence for a hit-and-run crash that caused minor injuries to a father and son.

Shortly after his release from the Middlesex House of Correction in Billerica, Galluccio told reporters gathered outside his home that he spent much of his time in prison participating in substance abuse programs. He said he also took a "deeper look at how alcohol has played a destructive role" in his life.

"I know that I have a lot to prove to many and much hard work ahead of me," Galluccio said during a press conference outside his home.

When asked if he is considering a return to politics, he said that is "not on my radar screen."

Galluccio was originally sentenced to house arrest in the October 2009 crash, but was later sentenced to a year in jail after he violated his probation by failing two alcohol screenings. He claimed the positive readings were caused by toothpastes that contain sorbitol, a sugar alcohol and artificial sweetener.

He would not respond to reporters' questions Wednesday about whether he had consumed alcohol the day he failed the chemical breath tests in December, saying that issue is part of his appeal pending in court.

Galluccio, a former mayor of Cambridge, was elected to the state Senate in 2007. He resigned after his probation violation.

This program aired on July 14, 2010. The audio for this program is not available.

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