Last night a debate was held for the DeKalb County State’s Attorney and the 16th Judicial Circuit Court Judge. Participants in the debate for State’s Attorney were Sarah Gallagher Chami (D) and Clay Campbell (R). The debaters for judge were the incumbent T. Jordan Gallagher  (D) and Thomas Doherty (R).

The moderators for the debate were two members from the Women’s Bar Association, who read their prepared questions as well as several from the audience which were submitted anonymously on note cards.

The first debate was for the judge position. Gallagher and Doherty’s opening statements reflected their appreciation for all the audience as well as the people who had worked to put the debate together. Doherty focused on his varied experiences as a U.S. Marine and Gallagher focused on his many years of experience as a judge.

The first question asked to the candidates was what their strengths and weaknesses are.

“I will not be shocked or taken aback,” Gallagher said. He went on to explain that he was in court almost everyday for the past several years. He mentioned that some people felt he allowed lawyers to get away with too much in his courtroom.

“The lawyers know what’s going on,” Gallagher said. He feels he does not give them leeway but rather has a lot of patience for everyone in his court.

Doherty mentioned no weaknesses, but stressed his commitment to his country and his family.

Another question, this one sent in from the audience, asked if the candidates had any experiences outside of the practice of law.

Doherty received an undergraduate degree from NIU in business management, and served in the military for six years.

“When I left the corporate world I managed two different businesses,” Doherty said.

In the remaining two minutes he had left to expand on the question Doherty emphasized his varied background and experiences. 

A final question, once again coming from the audience, asked the candidates what role they felt lawyers had in recommending judges.

“They should be listened to,” Gallagher said. “The way you can tell if someone is a good judge is if you see them in court.”

Doherty responded that he wanted the people of DeKalb to elect and choose him, not the lawyers.

“I’m the grass roots, the new guy on the block,” Doherty said.

Up next were the two candidates for the States Attorney position. Sarah Gallagher Chami and Clay Campbell were given three minutes to introduce themselves. Chami was called to introduce herself first. She mentioned she was a fifth generation living in DeKalb, and told the audience that the reason she wanted to be State’s Attorney was that she wanted to protect her children. Campbell spoke about the 20 years he has been in DeKalb.

The first question asked by the moderator was about the candidates’ strengths. 

Campbell answered that he had experience and he had worked with people in the county.

“I would not need any on the job training,” Campbell said. He went on to speak on his prior experience as a lawyer. Chami also chose to speak about her experience.

“I have been a prosecutor for my entire career, my career is my life,” Chami said. She listed off her accomplishments in her career as a lawyer and how she served in Kane County as a Associate to the State’s Attorney.

A question that the two candidates took two different sides on was the death penalty, and the current moratorium on it.

Campbell argued that the death penalty could not be in place anymore because it was not enforced fairly, stating the statistic that minorities were more likely to be executed than whites, and men more than women.

“[The death penalty] is something we can’t utilize as a country anymore,” he said.

Chami started out that she agreed with Campbell’s sentiment, but felt it was not within the State’s Attorney’s realm to judge such things.

“I am not a policy-maker,“ she said. Chami further argued that if the law required the penalty be given she would allow it.

Closing statements for the two candidates were three minutes each, and Campbell went first. He thanked everyone again and said he understood the great responsibility that came with the job. Campbell also talked about his determination to do a good job, if elected.

“I will give my blood, sweat, toil and tears to this county,” he said.

Chami finished off the debate, thanking everyone for making the debate a possibility and for all the attendees. She addressed the law students in the crowd, talking to them about their futures.