Ex-prosecutor cagey about run for office

Former McHenry County prosecutor Daniel Regna confirmed Friday that he will announce Tuesday night if he's running against his former boss, McHenry County State's Attorney Louis Bianchi, in the February Republican primary.

"I'm announcing that I'm announcing my decision," Regna said, dodging a question about that choice even as he hinted that he is poised to run for state's attorney.

"I've been talking to community leaders, police officers, police chiefs, people on the street, and I think there's a strong support for my candidacy and a strong calling for me to step up and run. I'm very encouraged by that," Regna said, sounding very much a candidate as he deferred more details until Tuesday night's announcement at the Woodstock VFW.

Another potential candidate, former McHenry County State's Attorney Gary Pack, said Friday that he, too, will soon make an announcement about efforts to recruit him to run. He said he is still mulling his options, but indicated a three-person race would dilute efforts to bring change to the office.

He and other Bianchi critics, including Regna, have said Bianchi has weakened the office by running off numerous veteran prosecutors. Bianchi says he wanted people who would work harder and be tougher on crime.

Pack had backed his former first assistant state's attorney, Glenn Gable, in a run against Bianchi in the 2004 GOP primary after Pack decided not to run for a fourth term.

Regna had also been a vocal backer of Gable and appears to share much of the same support Pack would get. A West Point graduate and U.S. Army veteran, Regna had worked for the state's attorney's office from 1995 to 2004, rising to a felony prosecutor position. He was not retained when Bianchi took office.

Regna's wife, attorney Tiffany Davis, just left her nine-year post at Bianchi's office to take a similar position in Winnebago County.