As has been his tactic throughout this campaign, Mr. Matekaitis continues to twist the truth in his increasingly desperate attempts to get re-elected. I am always astonished at the length career politicians will go to in order to stay in power at the taxpayers’ expense. God forbid Mr. Matekaitis should have to ply his trade in the private sector where every dollar matters and every tax increase further places citizens in jeopardy of losing their homes.

My suggestion to use qualified law students in traffic court, under the supervision of an assistant state’s attorney, is based on a long-standing tradition in Illinois law schools to allow these future attorneys to gain valuable experience in court at no cost to the taxpayers. This tradition only exists because the Supreme Court of Illinois, with its governing authority over the practice of law, promulgated the rules by which it has prospered. In Lincoln’s day, it was common for aspiring lawyers to work under the direction of supervisory lawyers until they were deemed sufficiently trained to sit for the bar. All have benefited from the wisdom of this practice. I myself benefited from it when I prosecuted traffic cases in Winnebago County over a decade ago when I was in law school here at NIU. I handled as a law student the same kinds of cases Mr. Matekaitis handles in traffic court now.

I suspect the reasons for Mr. Matekaitis’ emotionally charged reaction to this suggestion is two-fold. First, it derives from the fact that I am suggesting that a law student could do what he has been doing in traffic court for the past four years. He has yet to give taxpayers a reason why we should continue to pay $135,000 for a traffic-court lawyer when the law provides for a replacement at no cost to the public. Second, it may have something to do with the fact that he is without any felony jury trial experience, a glaring weakness that is without precedent in any other county in the state of Illinois. Mr. Matekaitis’ contention that he is a career prosecutor demeans those who truly fulfill this role by personally taking on the most dangerous criminals every day in the courts throughout this country. Handling minor traffic offenses and ordinance violations does not qualify him to claim this respected title.

As a nation at war, it is the responsibility of all public officials to find new ways to deliver government services to citizens in the most cost-effective way possible. As the next DeKalb County state’s attorney, I will implement changes to ensure this mission is fulfilled. Suggestions by citizens and other public officials as to the nature of these changes will be met not with derision and scorn but with courtesy and careful consideration. After all, it’s your government.

Calvin Clay Campbell

Republican candidate for DeKalb County state’s attorney