Peoria Pundit

The Peoria Association Of Pastors For Community & Spiritual Renewal says:

… In light of these issues and others we feel that it is best to pursue new leadership within the Peoria County States Attorney’s Office and after numerous meetings with Darin LaHood in which he voluntarily laid out a plan, we are pleased and excited about the current opportunity to make the community a better one for all of it’s citizens.

The group has says current State’s Attorney Kevin Lyons has been unresponsive to their requests concerning allegations of police brutality. LaHood, on the other hand, has been communicating with the group, and has pledged to improve diversity within the office.

LaHood also has been endorsed by every police union in the county, a fact which Lyons makes him more independent and better able to prosecute police misconduct. It appears this group isn’t buying that argument.

Today, I was chatting with a lifelong Democrat who says LaHood is one of two Republicans who is getting his vote (the other being Joan Krupa). He called Lyons the luckiest S.O.B. on the ballot. In any other election year, Lyons would be tossed easily because they are sick of crime. But Obama is expected to win Illinois in landslide, and no doubt a portion of vote casters will vote straight Democrat because they hate Bush so much.

But if this group of pastors (mostly of black churches) are against Lyons on the issue of police brutality, I have to think LaHood is doing better than even odds.

I’m not aware of any local coverage of this, which I found in the Chicago Tribune:

Aaron Schock, a Republican state lawmaker making a strong bid for an open U.S. House seat in central Illinois, once notarized documents with false dates while helping his parents set up tax shelters, his own father testified in federal court.

The backdating raises the possibility Schock committed official misconduct, a misdemeanor under state law.

The issue came up in the July trial of three people accused of selling sham trusts and financial packages. The Schock’s were victims of the scheme and were accused of no wrongdoing.

There is no indication that Schock or his parents benefited financially from using the incorrect date, and Schock’s father testified that he used it because that was when he first set up the tax shelters. In an interview with The Associated Press, Schock did not dispute his father’s testimony.

But as a notary public, Schock was required to provide accurate information about witnessing documents being signed. Schock declared that he witnessed the documents being signed on Jan. 1, 2000, but they weren’t actually signed until more than a year later.

Notaries are people who are legally empowered to witness documents and certify their validity.

The article says that is this is to be prosecuted, it would have to be prosecuted by none other than Peoria County State’s Attorney Kevin Lyons. I’m not going to hold my breath. Lyons has a miserable track record when it comes to holding politicians and public employees accountable for obeying the law.

I’m aware of other notaries who have signed off on having witnessed documents being signed when they were not present. Since there was no fraud going on, no harm no foul. But then, none of them were running for Congress. And here’s the thing about running for Congress: There are no do overs.

I guarantee that if Schock were the underdog in this race, and there was undisputed court testimony saying Colleen Callahan fudged a date on documents, in apparent violation of state law, Schock’s campaign Steve Shearer would be whispering the ear of every reporter in the 18th District.

OK, I know. The title of the office is “state’s attorney” and not “district attorney.” But I think the guy on the left looks a little like Kevin Lyons and the one of the right looks a little like Darin LaHood. In fact, if you look carefully, the guy on the left is just a tad shorter.

The guy making a getaway looks like no well-known Peoria crook I know. Perhaps he’s just symbolic of all the bad guys that have flown the coop under Lyon’s watch, and the guy on the right symbolizes LaHood sounding the alarm. The Lyons character is remaining silent, perhaps symbolizing his belief that it’s not his role to be a crime-fighter, but to sit back and wait for the police to make arrests, then decide whether they’ve collected enough evidence to guarantee an easy conviction. This cover would be even more symbolic of Peoria’s situation if there were a judge sentencing the bad guy to probation.

Just a thought.

Hat tip to a ex-Peorian who has also flown the coop, and who shall remain nameless.

(Press release)

Peoria Area Chamber PAC Supports LaHood for State’s Attorney

Peoria, IL — The Peoria Area Chamber Political Action Committee is the latest organization publicly supporting Darin LaHood in the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s race. The Peoria Area Chamber PAC released this news shortly after candidate forum the Chamber itself hosted for LaHood and his opponent, an incumbent State’s Attorney of 20 years.

“Addressing crime in Peoria is the number one issue in this race. I have put forth a five-point plan to combat this problem while my opponent has indicated his office would only offer more of the same,” explained Peoria County State’s Attorney candidate Darin LaHood during the Wednesday morning forum at the Heartland Partnership office. “Every police organization — including six unions — has endorsed my candidacy, along with eight City Council members and numerous other community leaders. People understand that we need a new approach to fighting crime.”

“The support from the Peoria Area Chamber PAC means a great deal to my campaign,” said LaHood. “I am thankful for all of my supporters — who may not always agree with one another on all the issues — but do agree that we need a change. I’ll restate it; as State’s Attorney, I will work with all citizens of Peoria and collaborate with groups and leaders from all sectors to make Peoria safe for our families.”

Before Chamber members present for the debate, LaHood discussed how the business community can continue to grow, greater economic development can take place, the City of Peoria can become the destination for home buyers in the area rather than more suburban developments and an overall quality of life can be achieved if crime can effectively be addressed. That, said LaHood, has to be a priority of the County’s top prosecutor, something that has been lacking in his office for the last 20 years.

Forty-year-old Darin LaHood presently practices law with the Peoria firm, Miller, Hall & Triggs. Prior to that, he served as Chief Terrorism and Federal Prosecutor for four years with the United States Department of Justice in Las Vegas, Nevada. LaHood gained experience as a county prosecutor during the years he spent as an Assistant State’s Attorney in both Tazewell and Cook Counties. LaHood and his wife Kristen are both Peoria natives and are raising three children. The are active in numerous Peoria charitable and civic organizations, and are members of St. Vincent de Paul Church. To learn more about Darin, volunteer opportunities or contribute to the campaign, visit www.DarinLaHood.com.

As this YouTube video demonstrates, police officers in Illinois often appear in uniform in ads for politicians they endorse. In this case, the politician in question is Tom Allen, Democratic candidate for Cook County state’s attorney. Those complaining about local cops ought to take heed.

DeWayne Bartels is reporting that it appears that a photograph of uniformed Peoria Heights police officers posing with Republican Peoria County State’s Attorney candidate Darin LaHood in front of a police car may be a violation of election law. The top cop in the Heights has apparently asked LaHood’s opponent, incumbent Democratic SA Kevin Lyons to investigate this apparent violation.

If there are election law violations, they must be investigated and prosecuted. But here are the problems:

• It’s a screaming conflict of interest for Lyons to investigate a charge involving his opponent.
• The propriety of state’s attorney candidates by police unions is itself an issue in the LaHood/Lyons campaign. LaHood brags abut how every single police union has endorsed him. Lyons says he doesn’t accept police endorsements because he wants to maintain the independence of his office. It’s a brave stance to refuse to accept support from people who would rather eat their own young than offer support.
• The way I read the article, if this is a violation of the law, then the violators are those officers who posed for the pictures, not LaHood, even thought LaHood is in a better position to know election law, being a lawyer who has spent the better part of the past year as a candidate for office. Going after officers wouldn’t win Lyons any friends in uniform. But then, Lyons cites his willingness to prosecute police as proof of his independence.
• It’s been suggested elsewhere that Lyons would seek an outside prosecutor, like Tazewell County SA Stuart Umholtz. Trouble is, LaHood used to work with Umholtz.

In other Lyons/Lahood mudfest news, a judge has ruled that accused rapist Monterius Hinckle can be tried in Peoria County, despite the pre-trial publicity caused when Lyons held a press conference to complain that LaHood had tried to meet with the father of one of girls Hinckle is accuses of attacking.

(Press release)

Peoria, IL – “Peoria has unacceptable levels of crime…we need a new approach for prosecuting criminals…that’s why we need Darin LaHood as State’s Attorney.” So begins the first paid television advertisement of the election season for the Peoria County race for top prosecutor.

Darin LaHood, the challenger candidate who has secured endorsements from every police organization in Peoria County began airing this commercial today (Friday, September 26th).

“The stakes are high in the State’s Attorney’s race,” said LaHood.

“Over the past year I’ve been campaigning and people have repeatedly told me that they’re feeling less and less secure in their own neighborhoods. I maintain that our present system of criminal justice in Peoria County is falling short of what we expect and deserve and it is my goal to win the State’s Attorney’s race to make Peoria County safer for all of us.”

Thanks to widespread support and hundreds upon hundreds of individual donors, LaHood has worked hard to be in a position to wage a television advertising campaign. LaHood expects to maintain a television presence throughout the campaign season.

“I am thankful to the hundreds of people who believe enough in this campaign to help us fund our operations. This is yet another clear signal that folks in Peoria are tired of having the dubious distinction of the highest crime rate in the state and that my plans for reversing this trend are gaining a lot of attention.”

LaHood has earned the support of all nine police organizations in the County; the collective reasoning amongst the different bureaus is that the present State’s Attorney has not done enough to keep repeat, violent criminals off Peoria Streets and it is time for a change.
Police unions representing the City and County of Peoria, Bartonville, Chillicothe, Peoria Heights and the Correctional Officers, as well as departments in Elmwood, Glasford and Norwood have all publicly announced support for LaHood.

Forty-year old Darin LaHood presently practices law with the Peoria Miller, Hall, & Triggs. Prior to that, he served as Chief Terrorism and Federal Prosecutor for four years with the U.S. Department of Justice in Las Vegas, Nevada. LaHood gained experience as a county prosecutor during years spent as an Assistant State’s Attorney in both Tazewell and Cook counties. LaHood and his wife, Kristen are both Peoria natives and are raising their three children in their hometown. They are active in numerous Peoria charitable and civic organizations and are members of St. Vincent de Paul Church. Visit www.DarinLaHood.com to learn more about Darin, volunteer opportunities, or to contribute to the campaign

Randall Emert, the blogger and commenter known as Emtronics, has castigated Peoria City Council member Barbara Van Auken following the Sigma Nu incident. He’s used the comments section of this blog and his own site. To summarize his position: The frat members are being maligned, Van Auken got away with being drunk and belligerent because the police did her favors, and State’s Attorney Kevin Lyons has no balls because he won’t prosecute his friends (Van Auken and Andrew Rand).

And myself? “Candy coated this because of no balls,” he writes.

I’m the first to admit it’s difficult to be critical of a friend. But believe me or not, I think that if former Marcella Teplitz got liquored up and tore into a rowdy frat house, I’d have posted something along the lines of “give ‘em Hell, girl.” And believe me, Marcella would have had NO problem putting pressure on either BU or city police to sit on rowdy college students.

Go read the post and my comment.

Better make it quick before he deletes it all.

I have no opinion, either way, on Johnnie Lee Savory’s guilt or innocence. From talking to convicts, their friends and their family members — not to mention their lawyers — no one currently residing in prison is guilty. Prosecutors get sick of constant demands to retry old cases that seem settled.

Yet DNA test results can be compelling arguments that a convicted person is in fact not guilty.

I see both sides. And, this isn’t the first such request I’ve received asking for a little publicity on behalf of Savory. I resisted because I didn’t want to appear to side with Savory simply to spite the current Peoria County State’s Attorney, Kevin Lyons. But on the other hand, I don’t want to ignore an important issue, either.

So, I’m throwing this out for discussion.

Dear Mr. Dennis,

I’m reaching out to Peoria media about a former Peoria resident’s fight for justice against State’s Attorney Kevin Lyons.

In 1977, when Johnnie Lee Savory was 14, he was falsely accused and unjustly convicted for killing his best friend and his best friend’s sister in their hometown of Peoria, Illinois.

With the help of Northwestern University’s Center on Wrongful Convictions, he was paroled and released in late 2006, after spending 30 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.

Since Johnnie’s release from prison, he has organized a broad coalition of support from some of the most influential and respected lawyers and legal minds in the country.

With nothing to personally gain, Johnnie’s supporters all agree that his case from start to finish was grossly mishandled, and that the evidence used to convict him demands DNA testing.

And yet Kevin Lyons inexplicably refuses to hand over the evidence. You might say that Lyons is afraid to put his money where his mouth is — except the Center on Wrongful Convictions has offered to pay for the tests.

Johnnie has started a campaign called Justice for Savory to shine a light on this injustice.

The campaign’s blog just posted a story on Kevin Lyons called “‘In the palm of some fool’s hand’: the case of Johnnie Lee Savory. Here’s the link: http://justiceforsavory.windycitizen.com/2008/09/23/%E2%80%9Cin-the-palm-of-some-fool%E2%80%99s-hand%E2%80%9D-peoria-states-attorney-kevin-lyons-an

Also, we just posted a youtube video by Rob Warden, the executive director of the Center on Wrongful Convictions. In the video, Mr. Warden explains why Johnnie’s case demands DNA testing and addresses why Lyons is afraid of the truth. Here’s the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tlJZXPgOUo

On Johnnie’s YouTube channel, you can find many other videos about his case. Here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/user/justiceforsavory

It would be great if you could post a link to Justice for Savory’s blog, embed one of our videos, or comment on our campaign. With the State’s Attorney race in full swing, I think this would be of great interests to your readers.

If I can be of any assistance, please email me at this address.

Thank you for your time,

John Maki

(press release)

Rural Police Departments Back Darin LaHood for State’s Attorney’s

Elmwood, Glasford, Norwood Police Issue Endorsements, Join Other County Organizations

Peoria, IL – Law enforcement in Peoria County firmly stands behind Darin LaHood for State’s Attorney; with the announcement of Elmwood, Glasford and Norwood Police Departments’ endorsements of LaHood’s candidacy, the challenger has secured the public support of all police organizations in Peoria County.

“The smaller police departments, which are at the mercy of their sometimes tight municipal budgets, are no less committed to public safety than any other police force,” said LaHood. “When an officer in one of these communities makes an arrest, that officer has provided necessary protection to residents. When the State’s Attorney’s office fails to charge that suspect and lets that suspect out as a result of a plea agreement, it weakens our County’s criminal justice system. It is my goal to strengthen that system and make Peoria County a safer place for all.”

Police Chiefs from each of the community departments described why they support LaHood:

“We need support from our State’s Attorney and Darin LaHood has indicated that he will stand firm for police officers throughout Peoria County,” says Glasford Police Chief Mark Harper. “With myself and nine part time officers, we cannot do it all ourselves. It will be good knowing that Glasford law enforcement has solid back-up in the Courthouse.”

Elmwood Chief Aaron Bean said, “We work closely with the Sheriff’s deputies, but seldom do we have the necessary and consistent communications with the State’s Attorney’s office. In law enforcement, we all have to work together, be on the same page and ultimately we can make Peoria County a safer place.”

Echoing his counterparts, Norwood Police Chief Christopher Carrier said, “While our small department does a great job for our community, it is imperative that we have cooperation with the prosecutor. Clearly we don’t face the crime problems of the inner-city, but we do have our problems that end up at the County Courthouse. We believe Darin LaHood is candidate who will support all police departments and communities in Peoria County.”

The three rural police departments, Glasford, Elmwood and Norwood round out the full slate of police organizations in Peoria County that have publicly endorsed LaHood’s candidacy for State’s Attorney. Among those, the Peoria Police Department, the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office, the Chillicothe Police Department, the Bartonville Police Department and the Peoria County Correctional Officers.

Darin LaHood, 40, was born and raised in Peoria. He is a former Chief Terrorism and Federal Prosecutor who served four years with the U.S. Department of Justice in Las Vegas, Nevada. LaHood was also an Assistant State’s Attorney in both Tazewell and Cook counties. LaHood and his wife, Kristen, returned home to Peoria in 2005 to raise their three children: McKay, Luke, and Teddy. LaHood currently practices with the Peoria law firm of Miller, Hall, & Triggs. Darin and Kristen are active in numerous Peoria charitable and civic organizations and are members of St. Vincent de Paul Church. Visit www.DarinLaHood.com to learn more about Darin, volunteer opportunities, or to contribute to the campaign.

(press release)

Peoria, IL (Sept. 4, 2008) – Candidates in four hotly contested races will discuss issues important to voters in the Illinois Heartland. Don’t miss your chance to hear them battle it out over local topics including crime and the area economy as well as national issues concerning trade, domestic energy production and foreign policy. Seats are limited so log on to www.peoriachamber.org and register now for the three scheduled candidate forums:

18th District Congressional Candidate Forum
Aaron Schock/Colleen Callahan/Sheldon Shafer
Date: September 10th, 2008
Time: 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Location: Hotel Pere Marquette
Live Broadcast on September 10th by 1470 WMBD

92nd and 106th District State Representative Candidate Forum
Jehan Gordon/Joan Krupa
Keith Sommer/Tom Shrier
Date: September 17th, 2008
Time: 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Location: The Heartland Partnership Board Room, 100 SW Water, Peoria

Peoria County State’s Attorney Candidate Forum
Kevin Lyons/Darin LaHood
Date: October 1st, 2008
Time: 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Location: The Heartland Partnership Board Room, 100 SW Water, Peoria

Media interviews and photo opportunities with candidates will immediately follow each forum.