McMahon cites experience in Kane State’s Attorney race
Vowing to keep streets and neighborhoods safe, Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon announced Tuesday that he would seek a full, 4-year term in November 2012.
“This election is about trust and experience, about whom you will trust with the safety and security of your family and friends and your tax dollars,” the 45-year-old Republican told about 50 supporters from the Geneva courthouse steps.
McMahon, who was appointed in December 2010 after John Barsanti became a judge, cited several initiatives from his office, such as creating a priority prosecution unit and aligning the office’s elder abuse team with authorities in Kendall and DeKalb counties.
McMahon, who was chief of the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office’s criminal division from 1998 to 2000 before going into private practice, said he knows the difference between career criminals and defendants who made a poor choice and deserve a second chance. He also said it was imperative to run his office as efficiently as possible.
After his speech, McMahon said he felt compelled to provide leadership after Barsanti left and Barsanti’s right hand man, Clint Hull, also became a judge. He also said Kane prosecutors, who have had a pay freeze since 2007, need to be paid in line with those in other counties or they will leave and his staff has to retrain new prosecutors.
“To be efficient, you have to pay prosecutors to keep them here,” he said.
McMahon is the first candidate to declare his candidacy for the November contest. It also is his first run for public office and he is eager to hit the campaign trail.
“It’s chance to get out and meet a lot of people in the county. I’ve lived here my whole life,” he said. “Really from Day 1 (from being appointed), I was committed to running for this office.”