Berlin announces re-election bid for DuPage state's attorney

DuPage State's Attorney Robert Berlin says he believes he's bolstered the county's "tough on crime" reputation and he wants to ensure the label sticks.

Berlin, 52, of Clarendon Hills, a five-year incumbent Republican, announced Tuesday he will seek a second full term in office.

Berlin, a 28-year prosecutor in Cook, Kane and DuPage counties, said the campaign season has begun for the March 15 primary election and he announced his candidacy to erase "any doubts in anyone's minds" about his intentions.

"With the cooperation of lots of dedicated citizens, we have advanced the cause of justice in creative and effective ways in DuPage County and we want to continue moving forward," Berlin said. "I am enthusiastic about the challenges ahead."

Berlin was appointed by county board Chairman Dan Cronin in December 2010 to replace Joseph Birkett, who retired to be a justice in the 2nd District Appellate Court in Elgin.

Berlin became an assistant state's attorney in Cook County in 1987 and went on to prosecute more than 60 felony jury trials, including 40 first-degree murder cases, before leaving in 2001.

Over the following four years, he prosecuted more murders and felonies as chief of Kane County's priority prosecution unit, where he also was first assistant.

Berlin left Kane for DuPage in 2004 and worked in the areas of juvenile delinquency, felony trials and special prosecution before his appointment.

"What I take away from this job is the satisfaction that I get from doing the right thing and when justice is done in an individual case," Berlin said. "(It's the) satisfaction you get from doing justice. That's what it's always been about for me."

Calling public safety "government's biggest responsibility" and his office "incredibly important to the people of the county," Berlin said he intends to run on his accomplishments during his first five years in office.

Among those accomplishments, he said, are his leadership in the fight against heroin and his creation of a diversion program that allows first-time nonviolent offenders to avoid a conviction.

Berlin called his role in the anti-heroin education campaign unique because it's not typical for a prosecutor to attempt to prevent crime.

"This program has been successful in raising awareness of the heroin abuse problem and equipped every police department with an anti-heroin overdose drug that saved 68 lives to date," Berlin said. "Our office continues to attack this issue on all fronts, including filing the first state racketeering case charging 31 defendants in connection with a heroin distribution ring."

The diversion program, Berlin said, supports the description he thinks most people would give of him.

"I think people would say I'm tough but fair, and our diversion program is a great example," he said. "Young people sometimes do stupid things and to saddle someone like that with a felony conviction is the wrong way to handle those cases."

Upon re-election, Berlin said he would continue his record of vigorous criminal enforcement of violent crimes.

"We've seen some significant violent cases and done an incredibly good job investigating, charging and prosecuting those cases," Berlin said. "That sends a message to the community that this is a safe place to live and raise a family. It also has a deterrent effect on those who choose to break the law."

Berlin said he is not aware of any challengers to his seat among either Republicans to Democrats. DuPage County Democratic Party Chairman Bob Peickert said Tuesday that he expects to know in the next two weeks if there will be a Democratic challenger for the seat in the November 2016 election.