A recent issue of the alternative newpaper, The Vigilante, has a candidate in the state’s attorney race crying foul over remarks that he had “no ethical bounds.”

Jerry Shapiro, Democratic candidate for state’s attorney, said Thursday he is “deeply saddened” by the route this campaign has taken with only a few days remaining until the public casts their votes.

The publication, by David Smith of Kirkland, Ill., alleges Shapiro could be part of “one real sleazy legal rats’ nest.” Smith states in the article, “There are sinister forces about that you fine people (citizens of DeKalb) must be totally aware of.”

The article depicts Shapiro as “Little Jerry … he was so afraid to do anything on his own while he was DeKalb’s city attorney … having no ethical bounds.”

Shapiro responded angrily to the remarks, claiming his Republican opponent, Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Coghlan, is responsible for the literature.

Shapiro said he feels the literature was distributed at this time because the election is so close and because his opponent is in a position of weakness.

“This publication can be directly attributed to my opponent, Michael Coghlan,” Shapiro said. “His past association with David Smith is a long one which he has personally and repeatedly referred to in every joint appearance we have made.”

Shapiro said he believes Coghlan realizes he is trailing in the election because, according to Shapiro, the present state’s attorney’s office has a poor felony conviction rate and an inadequate victim assistance program.

“Michael Coghlan, apparently in his frustration and desperation, is resorting to these tactics because he realizes that he cannot conduct an effective campaign for state’s attorney based upon his positions on the issues,” Shapiro said.

Coghlan returned Shapiro’s fire by saying he has had “absolutely no involvement with the publication of this newspaper.

“Every source in this story comes from someone different than me,” Coghlan said. “I have run my campaign strictly on the issues. I have no reason to run a negative campaign because I am the only candidate in this race with any criminal prosecution experience.

“I do not converse with Mr. Smith and I make it a point not to converse with Mr. Smith. The only times I have seen Mr. Smith were once when I represented him on a case and once at a “Right To Life” picnic, at which I had no idea he would even be.”

Shapiro said the article in The Vigilante “amounts to a vulgar and vicious attack on my professional and personal reputation.”

The publication is one of political satire and displays a banner at the top saying, “Its (the paper’s) only guarantee is that it will cause controversy and contain … many things you won’t find in any other local media source.”

Shapiro also said Coghlan has received help for his campaign from Smith. “Michael Coghlan admitted to me that he had talked to Smith about his campaign for state’s attorney,” Shapiro said. Smith was unavailable for comment.

Refuting the remark by Shapiro, Coghlan said he did receive a phone call at his home from Smith, but he instructed Smith not to get involved in the campaign because “I do not condone negative campaigning.”

Shapiro claimed this to be the first time his name has been included in Smith’s paper. However, his name appeared in last month’s issue also. “Now, one week before the election between Michael Coghlan and me, I have become the target of David Smith’s smears.

“Win or lose on Nov. 8, both myself and my family must live with the degrading, scurrilous and libelous allegations and innuendos which my opponent has allowed to be published,” Shapiro said.