From a press release:

LaHood to Create an Urban Advisory Committee to Improve Communication
State’s Attorney candidate cites disconnect between community and the Courthouse

Peoria, IL – Since launching his candidacy last October, Darin LaHood has been touting the importance of ‘partnering with community leaders from our urban and high crime areas to rebuild a level of trust.’ The challenger for Peoria County State’s Attorney has taken another step in fulfilling that proposal by announcing his intention to form an Urban Advisory Committee (UAC) made up of leaders and activists from Peoria’s African American community that would meet with and advise him on a regular basis in addressing issues of concern. The Committee is a way for LaHood, as State’s Attorney, to be pro-active instead of re-active on issues and concerns facing the African American Community

LaHood hosted a gathering of over 60 community members, predominantly African Americans, on Thursday at Chef Leo’s Bistro 320 in Peoria to announce the plan and to begin the formation of his UAC. Patti Polk, a longtime leader in Peoria’s African American community said the LaHood plan is needed to provide residents better access and ability to be heard by County government and specifically the State’s Attorney’s Office.

“Too often, the community voices are shut out of the process,” said Polk referencing the relationship between citizens and the local government. “Darin LaHood has made a concerted effort to be available to all Peorians and to listen to their concerns about the criminal justice system. His commitment and attention to these issues as a candidate will undoubtedly translate to an accessible and attentive State’s Attorney’s office – something sorely needed. I am honored to assist Darin with his efforts and when he is elected in November I will proudly serve on the UAC.”

Discussing the disconnect between the present States Attorney’s office and the Peoria African American community, LaHood told those assembled at Chef Leo’s that there has been a ‘collapse of trust.’ He said to rebuild that trust, it is important to have a diverse office staff, provide citizens accessibility and to simply ‘show up’ and let the residents know that you care about the issues that affect them.

“Law abiding citizens in many parts of our community have lost faith in the local criminal justice system,” said LaHood. “It is critical that we re-establish this level of trust and the obvious, simple first step is to improve communication. That’s what I intend to do with the UAC and I am very excited about the positive response this announcement has received.”

Darin LaHood, 40, was born and raised in Peoria. He is a former Chief Terrorism and Federal Prosecutor who served four years with the U.S. Department of Justice in Las Vegas, Nevada. LaHood was also an Assistant State’s Attorney in both Tazewell and Cook counties. LaHood and his wife, Kristen, returned home to Peoria in 2005 to raise their three children: McKay, Luke, and Teddy. LaHood currently practices with the Peoria law firm of Miller, Hall, & Triggs. Darin and Kristen are active in numerous Peoria charitable and civic organizations and are members of St. Vincent de Paul Church. Visit www.DarinLaHood.com to learn more about Darin, volunteer opportunities, or to contribute to the campaign.