Bianchi coasts to re-election on record of results

Voters in McHenry County stuck with experience in re-electing Louis Bianchi as the county's state's attorney.

Bianchi, 65, the Republican incumbent from Crystal Lake, staved off Democratic challenger Thomas Cynor, 40, a research attorney in the 22nd Judicial Circuit in Woodstock.

With nearly all precincts reporting, Bianchi had about 62 percent of the vote to Cynor's 38 percent. Final results show Bianchi received 79, 490 votes to Cynor's 49, 043.

Bianchi attributed his repeat win to the tangible results his office has attained during his first term.

"Four years ago we made a promise to the voters and we have kept those promises," Bianchi said. "We promised to return the office to the people and obviously tonight the voters voted to keep the office in the hands of the people."

As he heads toward his second term, Bianchi said he would also continue to pinch pennies and collect revenue to beef up the county's bottom line.

"We have made a lot of changes and have saved taxpayers $1.5 million," Bianchi said. "We will do more to save more money."

That includes going after about $1.2 million in fines and court costs that have not been paid in the past eight years, Bianchi said.

In his first term, the Crystal Lake resident oversaw the creation of a special court for mentally ill offenders and started a check enforcement program to protect local businesses.