From the desk of Sharon L. Holmes, DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder:
DeKalb County Clerk, Sharon L. Holmes, would like to remind those individuals who are not registered to vote, that Tuesday, January 5, 2010 is the last day to register if you wish to vote in the February 2, 2010 General Primary. The County Clerk’s Office, located at 110 E. Sycamore Street, Sycamore is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To register to vote, two forms of identification are necessary – one must show current address; second identification can be name only. Anyone who is unsure about the status of his/her registration may call the County Clerk’s Office at 815.895.7147 for verification. If you have moved within DeKalb County, complete the back portion of your voter’s card and return it to the County Clerk’s Office. Please visit our website at www.dekalbcounty.org for other election related questions including polling place information and Absentee/Early Voting dates and times.
After more than 20 years service as County Clerk and Recorder, Sharon Holmes (R) is retiring and choosing not to run for re-election. A job well done.
Local Races County Clerk & Recorder: Three individuals are seeking to fill the seat opened by Holmes decision to retire. The Republican primary race is between John Acardo (Sycamore) and Joe Simons (DeKalb). Jim Luebke (DeKalb) is running unopposed as a Democrat.
John Acardo is chairman emeritus of the DeKalb County Young Republicans. He attended Northern Illinois University where he got his degree in political science. After graduation, John went on to work for State Rep. Bob Pritchard as the district office director in Sycamore.
Joe Simons graduated from DeKalb High School in 1989. He graduated in 1994 from Illinois Benedictine College (Currently Illinois Benedictine University) with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science. He has worked in the construction industry for several years with Andersen Windows.
Jim Luebke is a twenty-year resident of DeKalb County, a U.S. Navy veteran, and a 1990 graduate of Northern Illinois University with a B.A. in History. He has worked all across DeKalb County as a highly demanded substitute teacher and has participated in many social organizations. He is currently on the DeKalb Township Board of Trustees.
Local Races DeKalb County Sheriff:
Roger Scott became a member of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office in 1969 after serving in the United States Air Force. He initially served as a radio operator and through the next sixteen years moved into the patrol division where he served as patrol deputy, K-9 handler, Sergeant, and eventually Patrol Lieutenant. In 1985 he was appointed Sheriff following in the footsteps of his brother, Sheriff Wilbur Scott. In 1986 he was elected Sheriff and is now serving in his fifth consecutive term.
Wesley Hoadley will be Scott’s first challenge for the position since 1986. He is currently administrative lieutenant for the DeKalb Police Department although he has worked in several local police departments, including the sheriff’s department from 1987 through 1990. He is chairman of the DeKalb County Credit Union and was president for 14 years of the DeKalb Police Benevolent & Protective Association.
Local Races – DeKalb County States Attorney:
Democrats
John Farrell began his legal career at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office from 1977 to 1987. He was appointed to be Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division and Deputy Chief of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. He was appointed to be the Attorney General’s representative on the Illinois-Wisconsin Anti-Terrorism Task Force headed by U. S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. Former State’s Attorney Ron Matekaitis hired John as Chief Civil Assistant in 2005. John served in that capacity until he was appointed State’s Attorney by the County Board Chair with the advice and consent of the Board on June 17, 2009.
Karen Wilkerson is an alumnus of Northern Illinois University, College of Law where she earned a Juris Doctorate degree in 1997. As a resident of Dekalb, Illinois for 26 years Currently, Karen is the sole proprietor of Karen L.S. Wilkerson, Attorney at Law in Dekalb, Illinois. Karen has been in private practice for six years and has built a successful law practice specializing in family, civil and criminal law.
Sarah Gallagher Chami is a fifth generation member of Gallaghers in DeKalb County. She graduated from DePaul University with a double major in political science and public relations and earned her law degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law. For her entire legal career Sarah has been a public prosecutor, including law clerk in Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office and as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Cook County. She is currently working in the Turner Law Office in Sycamore.
Republicans
Charles R. Rea from Hinckley, who has a law firm in Plano is one of two Republican candidates for DeKalb County States Attorney. He served with the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, from 1984-1990, receivng the Edsel Award for most felony trials in 1987. He has been involved in local politics having served as precinct committeeman for Squaw Grove township.
Calvin Clay Campbell has years of trial experience, much of it in DeKalb County. A US Army veteran, he has been a staunch advocate for veteran’s rights. He was both a pro bono and a staff attorney for Prairie State Legal Services and is a volunteer attorney for CASA DeKalb County, Inc. He served in various capacities with the State of Illinois Appellate Defender’s Office, DeKalb County Circuit Court Conflict Counsel, DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, and Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office. He is currently a practicing partner with the law firm Campbell & Skrna.
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I just thought I would share a personal experience I had with Mr. Farrell and the Dekalb County States Attorneys Office. I had a checkbook stolen and a check subsequently forged and cashed from my account in the amount of $400. I had a copy of the forged check, text messages from the person who did it, as well as a voicemail admission from the person who stole the check. After providing all of that evidence, Mr. Farrell has decided to not press any charges. I wonder how many people have been charged with this crime(theft/forgery/identity theft) with less evidence than I provided(how many victims of theft get the person who stole from them on their voicemail?) SO…perhaps the person who committed this crime knew someone in Mr. Farrell's office, perhaps Mr. Farrell has a "soft spot" for single moms who committ crimes…I can only speculate as to why some are charged and some are not, but when a States Attorney charges some and not others for the exact same crime with an overwhelming amount of evidence, does he have the character, honesty, and integrity to take an even higher office? I hope the good people of Illinois choose a candidate who will not ignore crimes if they are committed by a certain race, creed, marital status, or gender. This is NOT who Illinois needs at the States Attorney level! I soon hope to have a website up explaining my story further. Still waiting to hear from you Mr. Farrell. Thank you.