The debate last night between State’s Attorney incumbent Kevin Lyons and challenger Darin LaHood was focused completely on the issues. The format called for opening statements from each candidate, followed by questions from the audience, and then closing statements. Of the ten audience members who asked a question, including one reporter, none of them asked about the recent flare-up between the two candidates, and the candidates didn’t bring it up either.
The opening statements laid out the main talking points of each candidate. LaHood gave his qualifications, then proceeded to show a map that indicated Peoria is one of two counties with the highest crime rate in Illinois. “I’m the only one who has a plan for how we can do things differently,” he said, summing up his main issue that the State’s Attorney needs to do more to lower the crime rate. Lyons said the State’s Attorney job is about “balance” and “judgment,” a theme he came back to numerous times when answering questions. He said he rejects a cookie-cutter approach to prosecuting, preferring instead to treat each incident “one case, one face, one person at a time.” He also touted his 94% conviction rate for murder and said, “Every person I’ve put in prison for murder is still there.”
The format allowed for both candidates to answer every question, which led to some comic relief. The first question was to Mr. LaHood: “Where do you work now?” LaHood answered that he’s in private practice and has an office downtown. Lyons responded, “My rebuttal is that is indeed what Darin does… and I want him to keep doing it.”
From there, questions ranged from budgeting ability to experience in the courtroom to the perceived overuse of plea bargaining. We learned that LaHood has done 30 jury trials in the past eight years, but has not prosecuted any murder, rape, or armed robbery cases. Lyons has personally prosecuted 200 murder cases over his career, but he now only prosecutes one or two cases a year. Lyons also pointed out that he’s prosecuted two serial murderers.
LaHood stated that “the people who know the State’s Attorney the best are law enforcement,” and they’re all supporting LaHood. Lyons responded that he doesn’t take money or endorsements from police departments or unions as a matter of policy because “the State’s Attorney’s office is not for sale” and “shouldn’t be beholden to anyone, not even the police.” He said that he’s prosecuted 23 police officers in his career as well.
Regarding plea bargains, or “plea agreements” as Lyons called them, both candidates agreed that they are necessary to keep the system from grinding to a halt. “You can only push so much through the pipeline,” Lyons said. Lyons pointed out that these agreements don’t mean the perpetrator is getting off, just that the case is taken care of without a trial, and that each and every agreement is approved by a judge. Furthermore, even with all the plea agreements that are negotiated, Peoria county still has more trials than other similar-sized counties. LaHood would like to “reevaluate the whole system,” saying that “thugs aren’t scared to walk in the courthouse” because “it’s a revolving door.” A couple of things he would change: He believes that if someone gets caught with a gun, or if they’re a two-time violent felon, they should get no plea bargain.
LaHood touted his plan to establish, if elected, a “community prosecution program.” This would assign a prosecutor to a defined geographical area, such as the East Bluff. That prosecutor would partner with law enforcement, community groups, churches, etc., and try every case in that geographical area. “Everywhere it’s been tried, it brings crime down,” LaHood said. “It works.”
When asked what he would change if reelected, Lyons said the system is clogged in large part due to people who fail to appear in court; he would work to establish a greater consequence for failing to appear. He would also look for ways to use civil courtrooms and staff more efficiently, and ways to move people through the system quicker — including establishing more online resources. LaHood’s rebuttal was that none of those issues focus on how we can do a better job fighting crime. He said the State’s Attorney needs to be “the city’s number one crime fighter.”
The debate took place at West Peoria City Hall in a relatively small room considering all the media who were there. The event lasted about an hour. Lyons was a few minutes late arriving. About 50 people attended, including all local news media. The debate was moderated by West Peoria Residents Association President David Pittman.