She was born in Newport in 1924.She was a candidate for the United States Senate in 1984 as a Republican, but lost to incumbent Claiborne Pell.
She served as the Secretary of State of Rhode Island from 1993-95 as a Republican.
Leonard served on several state boards and commissions, including the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, the state's Port Authority and the state Advisory Committee on Refugee Resettlement.