SYCAMORE | Republican Clay Campbell beat Sarah Gallagher Chami in a tight race for DeKalb County State’s Attorney on Tuesday night.

Campbell received 53.5 percent of the vote, with Chami acquiring 46.5 percent.

“I’m speechless,” Campbell said at a get-together Tuesday night at his Sycamore office. “But you’re struck by the magnitude of the trust that people put in you.”

Campbell, who said he is “a trial lawyer by nature,” will take office Dec. 1.

“To a large extent, the quality of justice in DeKalb County is gonna be dependent on the decisions that I make,” Campbell said. “I’m humbled by that.”

Campbell will replace State’s Attorney John Farrell, a public figure in the Antinette Keller homicide investigation. Farrell has addressed the media several times regarding the Keller case.

“I look forward to working with the police department and consulting with the [Keller] family to try to get to the bottom of that horrendous crime and make sure justice is done,” Campbell said. “We have [an] outstanding police department and the [DeKalb County Major Case Squad] that did some very, very difficult police work to make the arrest.”

Campbell said he hopes to help Keller’s family find justice.

“I have children myself,” Campbell said. “I have two daughters, and I believe that family’s expectations of the justice system are no less than my family’s expectations of the justice system.”

Campbell also expressed his dedication to combating violence and maintaining safety in the community.

“I want DeKalb to be safe,” Campbell said. “If DeKalb’s not safe, the appeal to [NIU] isn’t there, and we start to develop a reputation of a community that’s not safe, and I think that is the furthest thing from the truth.”

According to his campaign website, Campbell served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and his Doctorate of Juris Prudence at NIU.

Campbell said it’s hard to pinpoint what gave him the edge over Chami in Tuesday’s election.

“It’s such a topsy-turvy political environment in the United States right now,” Campbell said. “It’s hard to say whether it’s because I’m a Republican or it’s the fact that I’m a fiscal conservative.”

Campbell recognized Chami’s efforts throughout this election season.

“Sarah delivered thousands of votes and I respect those votes, and I commend her quest for this office,” Campbell said. “I’m really looking forward to getting together and joining hands with all of these people in coming up with some of the solutions for our problems.”