By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – McLean County’s chief prosecutor, who’s been appointed to become a judge, has turned in his resignation, setting in motion the process to replace him.
State’s Attorney Jason Chambers will officially leave office August 21, the day the county board is expected to confirm Chairman John McIntyre’s choice for Chambers’ successor.
Chambers is a Republican, so his replacement has to be from the same party.
At least five people have expressed interest in replacing Chambers until the 2020 election. They are Assistant County Administrator Don Knapp, Jessica Woods, who leads the civil division in the state’s attorney’s office, and former prosecutors Mark Messman, Chris Gramm, and Jane Foster. All candidates are expected to appear next Tuesday before the county board’s executive committee.
The Illinois Supreme Court picked Chambers in June to fill the post held by retired Judge Robert Freitag.
In his resignation letter to Chairman McIntyre, Chambers thanked voters for allowing him to serve in what he said has been the greatest job of his career. However, Chambers said the position carries considerable power, and it’s healthy for there to be turnover in the office.
Chambers has been state’s attorney since 2012.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at howard.packowitz@cumulus.com.
