By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – One of the five people who want to become McLean County’s next state’s attorney directly addressed a wave of violence in Bloomington-Normal that has so far this year left nine people dead.
Four of the candidates presented their qualifications and answered questions Tuesday from the county board’s executive committee.
Jane Foster ran for the office, but lost in 2012, to Jason Chambers, who’s relinquishing the position next week to become a circuit judge.
Since her defeat, Foster said she’s had a front row seat to the devastation caused by high levels of violence while serving supervising Macon County’s gang and drug unit.
Foster said the violence here is unacceptable and alarming.
“If we don’t have a state’s attorney that can take the fight to criminals in the courtroom, that can be an effective leader from day one, I fear that we can head down the path to seeing levels of violence that are experienced at Decatur and Peoria,” Foster said.
Former prosecutor Mark Messman noted the state’s attorney’s office is about to lose Chambers and the top assistant recently left to become a federal prosecutor.
“You’ve got something like two dozen lawyers over there, plus a staff that are looking for leadership, something to fill that void. That’s where the immediate need is,” said Messman.
“They need experience, they need ability, and they need leadership,” Messman added.
Assistant County Administrator and former prosecutor Don Knapp said punishment for people committing evil acts should be different than penalties for doing stupid things. Knapp said great state’s attorneys provide prosecutors with the tools they need to do their jobs, and get out of their way.
Jessica Woods leads the state’s attorney’s civil division, but has also been a prosecutor. She said sometimes it’s best for the community to come up with alternatives to locking people up.
“What’s best for our community, and it’s not always to just ship people off to prison to teach them a lesson. It’s sometimes coming along side them in drug court, or recovery court, veterans court, or probation, or giving people a break if there are mitigating circumstances,” Woods said.
A fifth applicant, former prosecutor Chris Gramm, did not attend Tuesday’s executive committee meeting because of a previously planned vacation.
County Board Chairman John McIntyre will make his choice and the full county board will vote on the nomination next Tuesday.
The next state’s attorney will run the office of 47 full time employees and manage an estimated $3.25 million annual budget until the 2020 election.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
