Barsanti preps for next bid as Kane State's Attorney

John Barsanti woke on Feb. 5 and knew the Tuesday -- at least the part concerning the Republican primary -- would play out in his favor.

The first-term Kane County state's attorney was the lone contender on the ticket and the race would be his as soon as Barsanti emerged from the voting booth.

In court, Barsanti has had to shoot from the hip to win trials. It was no different this election and with his edge, he had a different mindset as he headed to the polls.

"I didn't do any of the lucky-charm things at all," Barsanti said this week. "I just tried to help out other candidates. … I wasn't anywhere near in the mode I was in last time."

But while a handful in Barsanti's inner circle are already gearing up for a victory party in November, Kane County's top cop isn't prepared to call himself immune to a Democrat challenge.

Indeed, the upset staged by Bill Foster in Saturday's special election to finish out the remainder of retired U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert's term caused a stir in the GOP, but Barsanti said it's not enough to rattle his nerves.

"Until I get an opponent, I'm going to wait and see," Barsanti said. "I've got plans on what I want to do -- it's not magical -- but Republicans just have to get our message to the independents."

Kane County's Democratic party has until early April to slate a candidate for the post that Barsanti overwhelmingly grabbed in November 2004.

Barsanti first won a four-way primary which proved to be the toughest stretch of his campaign and then defeated the Democrat, Aurora attorney Renee Robinson, in the general election.

Robinson said she's been approached for another shot at Barsanti this fall but, despite a strong primary run at the Aurora judicial subcircuit seat, told party leaders she's not interested.

"I just finished an election," she said. "I told them, 'State's attorney is not on my mind.'"

Mark Guethle, chairman of the Kane County Democratic party, said there are a handful of people weighing a bid for state's attorney, but he would not disclose names until the slate is set.

Whomever is picked, Democrats bolstered by interest in the presidential race and the outcome of last weekend's special election indicates the party has the opportunity to lure independent voters to its side, Guethle said.

"There's good candidates out there who want to participate in this race," Guethle said. "We're in the process of trying to fill up every open seat … state's attorney is one of them."