DeKalb County State’s Attorney Election Profile

Clay Campbell

Background:

• Republican, Incumbent
• Has practiced criminal law in DeKalb County for 20 years
• Graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Southern Illinois University
• Graduated with a J.D. from NIU in 1991
• Has prosecuted in DeKalb County since 2010

Campbell states his goals and priorities are:

• To ensure safety of NIU and area around campus
• To be dedicated to working with local law enforcement
• To be more creative with how crimes are prosecuted
• To work on serious drug and crime issues
• To devote more time and effort to the most serious criminals

Richard Schmack

Background:

• Democrat
• Has practiced as an attorney for 32 years
• Graduated with a J.D. from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1980
• Graduated with Bachelor’s Degree Magna Cum Laude in Political Science and History from North Central College
• Served as assistant state’s attorney under DeKalb County State’s Attorney Philip L. DiMarzio

Schmack said his goals and priorities are:

• To restore the operation of the office to a professional operation
• To do the job right
• To prosecute crime, not look for other things to do
• To return to the state’s attorney position being involved with the drug court instead of assistants
• To not make any promises that can’t be delivered