McHenry Co. SA contenders talk priorities

There are two candidates vying for the Republican nomination for McHenry County state's attorney in the Feb. 5 primary -- incumbent Louis A Bianchi of Crystal Lake and Daniel J. Regna of Woodstock.

The Daily Herald asked the candidates several question and here are their answers:

Q. Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what? What will be your main priority?

Louis A. Bianchi. I am seeking re-election in order to continue the work that I began three years ago when I first took office. One of several promises that I made and kept to the voters was to elevate and enhance the prosecution of criminal cases. We have accomplished this by having our attorneys better prepared and ready to go to trial. That allowed us to focus on longer sentences and tougher penalties, rather than mere negotiation. To accomplish this, assistants and defense attorneys have had to work harder. While this was met with some resistance, we have raised the bar, resulting in a better job representing the people and protecting the citizens of McHenry County.

Daniel J. Regna. After graduating from West Point and completing my military service commitment, I left the Army with the specific purpose of attending law school and becoming a career prosecutor. Now, in seeking election as chief prosecutor, I am extremely concerned with the McHenry County State's Attorney's failure to fully prosecute serious violent criminals. including Kenny Smith, Lawrence Hucksteadt and Allison Kangas, who all committed acts of homicide. The families of these victims and our community deserve justice in these serious criminal cases. Upon taking office, I will develop and dedicate necessary resources to obtain justice in our most serious criminal cases. Without exception, I will give these cases the highest priority above all others. At present, minor matters are given an inordinate amount of prosecutor's resources and time, to the detriment of far more serious cases. Under my watch, this will not occur.

Q. If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of important initiatives you've led. If you are not an incumbent, tell us what contributions you would make.

Bianchi. Major accomplishments the past three years:

• Tough on crime. This year we have taken 60 cases to trial, aggressively and successfully prosecuting gang crime, sexual predators and drunk drivers.

• Mental health court. Opened on April 5, 2007, we will soon have 20 participants. Under strict court supervision, we will provide them the help needed to find shelter, jobs, clinical assistance (counseling and medication), and monitor their to return as productive members of society.

• Saved taxpayers more than $1 million. Lawsuits, filed by or against the county, are handled by our qualified in-house civil attorneys, not outside counsel. Result was savings to our taxpayers of more than $1.5 million in three years.

• We created a new, in-house check enforcement program collecting more than $60,000 for McHenry County business owners in the first nine months.

• Special prosecution unit: Two experienced attorneys are assigned to larger, complex cases, involving serious crimes or complicated evidentiary issues.

Regna. Upon election, I will restore justice to the citizens of McHenry County. Justice comes in many forms -- whether a conviction, probation, court supervision or voluntary dismissal of a criminal case. Currently, too many criminal cases are languishing in our criminal courts due to inexperienced prosecutors.

Justice must seek to restore societal order in an appropriate, efficient and swift manner that benefits victims and their families as well as our community. We must swiftly impose rehabilitative programs upon non-violent offenders that allow them to redeem themselves and become productive citizens in our communities. By quickly disposing of non-violent cases, defendants are far more likely to succeed and, more importantly, limited prosecution resources may be dedicated to the serious violent criminal cases. A prosecutor must not blindly seek to be "tough on crime," but rather seek the fair and efficient administration of justice to the benefit of our entire society.