Andrew Sosnowski: 2024 candidate for Kane County state’s attorney

Bio

Party: Republican

Office Sought: Kane County state’s attorney

City: Elgin

Age: 63

Occupation: Attorney

Previous offices held: No elected office

Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election for the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what?

My lifelong professional qualifications and experiences as a former prosecutor for 16 years, with a strong record for delivering justice to victims, makes me well positioned to lead the office to adequately mitigate trending rise in crime and corruption.

As an independent thinker, not driven by politics, I have always been concerned with victims’ rights. If crime increases, our freedoms erode. I can bring meaningful improvement and accountability to the State’s Attorney’s office balancing the needs for safety in our communities.

I previously spearheaded the creation and implementation of the Family Justice Division, as well as the Kane County Child Advocacy Center. I successfully fought for CASA to become guardian ad litem in the court.

Although these initiatives were unique for their time, we see my efforts years ago have persisted for decades despite politics. I see the Kane County state’s attorney’s office needs forward thinking and innovative strategies to deal with crime.

If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of any important initiatives you've led. If you are a challenger, what would you bring to the board and what would your priority be?

I have met with numerous organizations in and outside the county and concluded that we have to do a better job of tracking and monitoring the opioid crisis hurting families.

I will lead a task force made up of state, local and federal law enforcement, and work with the county coroner, health department and other local organizations to get ahead of this crisis before it really overtakes us.

Another issue really concerning people is the evolution of the human trafficking networks going through the collar counties. As the former general counsel of the National Insurance Crime Bureau, I worked with complex data analytics to combat international crime. We partnered with Interpol, the CIA and the FBI, as well as local law enforcement.

If elected Chief Prosecutor for Kane County, I will unite these entities and programs to form a Human Trafficking and Human Exploitation Center that would leverage state, local and international resources.

What crime should be the office’s top target? Drugs? Gang violence? Child sex abuse? Something else? Why? What steps will you take to address the priorities as you see them?

1. Our youth are our future. We can’t allow a system that fails our kids. As the former Deputy General Counsel of DCFS, I know where resources can be found to help mitigate abuse and neglect of kids. Juvenile Delinquency and Abuse Neglect Courts will be a priority as I plan on reinstating the Family Justice Division, bringing together areas that affect the very fabric of the family; from child support to domestic violence.

2. Review the civil division resources to assist in “keeping politics out of prosecution.” Partisan infighting has no place in a state’s attorney’s office.

3. Violent crime and recidivism training of ASAs and credentialing prosecutors to handle complex cases will be a priority. Assistant state’s attorneys will be credentialed and trained before representing the People of the State of Illinois in any courtroom.

Describe your position regarding the allocation of resources in the state's attorney's office. Are personnel allocated as they should be? Are there capital expenses or other budgetary items that the office must address, and, if so, how do you propose to address them?

The budget at the state’s attorney’s office is at an all-time high. Since my opponent took office, the budget has more than doubled. Ineffective programs, following analyzing statistical success with real data from internal intelligence and community sources, must occur.

I believe in second chances. However, many of the diversion and second chance programs can be streamlined and downsized. I will work with local law enforcement to utilize existing resources without double taxing citizens.

As I travel the county, law enforcement officers describe that crime has increased with the advent of the SAFE-T Act and the State’s Attorney Diversion Programs. This is concerning to hear from those dealing head on with crime. My intent is the office to concentrate on victim’ rights and consequences for offenders.

Name one concrete program you’ll create or personnel move you’ll make to improve efficiency in the office or make it more successful. Explain how it will be funded and how you will overcome any obstacles to initiating it.

Money for excessive and often repetitive programs, (acknowledging existing law enforcement agency programs), will be reallocated to support initiatives: Opioid Tracking and monitoring program using community prosecution, Human Trafficking & Human Exploitation Center, Prosecutor Training and Credentialing Initiatives, and Juvenile Justice and Abuse Neglect Community Initiatives.