McLean County to get special prosecutor in Normal mayor recount

Posted on April 26, 2017
Government Center
The McLean County Clerk’s Office will be represented by a special prosecutor in the Normal mayor recount. (WJBC file photo)

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – The McLean County State’s Attorney’s office has requested a special prosecutor in the Normal mayor recount.

Eleventh Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Kevin Fitzgerald approved the request Wednesday to bring in an attorney from the Illinois State’s Attorney Appellate Prosecutor’s Office in Springfield to represent the County Clerk’s office in the matter.

McLean County First Assistant State’s Attorney Don Knapp said the special prosecutor would remove any conflict of interest concerns.

“I didn’t think there was an actual conflict for us to represent or a technical conflict for us to represent (County Clerk Kathy) Michael but many times we try to avoid even the appearance of a conflict,” Knapp said.

State’s Attorney Jason Chambers and Normal mayor Chris Koos served on the town council together and have campaigned for each other in the past. Marc Tiritilli has requested a discovery recount following his 11-vote loss to Koos.

Michael said her office is still working out the logistics with Tiritilli’s campaign and plans to schedule a discovery recount during the second week of May.

If the Tiritilli campaign sees discrepancies in the seven Normal precincts it reviews, it has until May 25 to request a complete recount.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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