With the election for DeKalb county state’s attorney only six weeks away, incumbent Ron Matekaitis and challenger Calvin “Clay” Campbell are accelerating the pace of their campaigns.

Campbell charges that his opponent does not try enough felony cases and that the office is “trending towards a completely administrative position.”

“Most sheriffs don’t patrol,” Matekaitis said, “and most principals do not teach. I am more interested in results than who gets credit.”

In the 2000 election, Matekaitis had promised to appoint a full-time felony prosecutor, which he did, and cited the office’s high conviction rate as evidence of his success.

Campbell said it is important for the people to understand that Matekaitis has never prosecuted a case.

Matekaitis denied Campbell’s assertion and said he handles battery, theft and drug-possession cases.

“I’ve done a lot of complicated cases,” Campbell said, and added that his defense background involving many trial cases would be beneficial.

Campbell said Matekaitis spent too much time in traffic court for a job that pays $135,000 annually.

“Traffic court is easy. I will replace the traffic court prosecutor with an NIU law student,” Campbell said. “It would be free for the county.”

Both candidates plan to go door-to-door until election day. Matekaitis said he knocked on 2,000 doors last year and plans to better that this year.

Two debates are currently scheduled with a third pending.

The candidates will hold an informational discussion Oct. 15 at the DeKalb County Farm Bureau Building, 1350 W. Prairie Drive in Sycamore, and Oct. 19 at the Oak Crest DeKalb Area Retirement Center, 2944 Greenwood Acres Drive.

The Campbell campaign is pushing for a debate at NIU.

Lenny Mandell, associate dean for Student Services in the College of Law, said he supports the debate, but does not know if it will happen.

The Student Association also plans to sponsor the debate, said SA Director of Governmental Affairs Adam Novotney.

“Campbell has told us ‘wherever, whenever.’ No one from the Matekaitis office has called,” he said.

Matekaitis said he thought the debate was already scheduled.

Confidence is high in both campaigns.

“As a challenger, you can say what you will do; as an incumbent you can say what you have done,” Matekaitis said. “I am doing what I think people want.”

During the primary season, about 3,000 more voters came out for the Republican ticket than the Democratic. Campbell said he is proud of “this show of support.”

“I am confident I will be the next DeKalb county state’s attorney,” Campbell said.