Darin LaHood announced today that he will be running against Kevin Lyons for Peoria County States Attorney, ending speculation about whether he would vie for the 18th Congressional District seat being vacated by his father, the Hon. Ray LaHood.

You can read his bio/resume by clicking here. Here’s the text of the news release:

Peoria, IL – Darin LaHood (39), a Peoria attorney, today issued a statement declaring his candidacy for Peoria County State’s Attorney where he will face a 20-year incumbent on the ballot in November 2008. The Republican LaHood noted his experience prosecuting violent crimes in the Peoria area and elsewhere and believes the increasing number of violent and other crimes in Peoria warrants a change in the State’s Attorney’s office.

A formal campaign announcement by LaHood will come in the next few weeks.

“Our community demands and deserves tougher prosecution of violent crime,” stated Darin LaHood. “After 20 years, it is time for a change of leadership in Peoria’s prosecution of criminals and that is why I plan to run for Peoria County State’s Attorney.”

“Over the last four years, Peoria County has had an escalating number of homicides – this year we are on track to break the all-time record for murders.” said LaHood. “With more than eight years in prosecutorial positions, I have developed a strong record of being an aggressive and vigorous prosecutor on hundreds of cases involving homicides, guns, robberies, drugs and other violent offenses. The bottom line is that Peoria County citizens deserve tougher prosecution of violent criminals.”

LaHood’s career has enabled him to gain his experiences locally in the Tazewell County State’s Attorney’s office, as well as the in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office and in the U.S. Department of Justice. As a Federal Prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, LaHood spent four years in Las Vegas, NV, the first three years working in the Violent Crimes and Narcotics Division and the last year as the Lead Terrorism Prosecutor.

“Scores of community leaders, law enforcement officers and elected officials from the City of Peoria and throughout all corners of the County support my candidacy,” said LaHood. “Starting today, I commit to the people of Peoria to run an aggressive, grass-roots, issue-oriented campaign for Peoria County State’s Attorney.”

For the last several weeks, Darin LaHood had also weighed the option of waging a campaign for the open Congressional seat in the 18th District, the seat from which his father Ray LaHood is retiring.

“While many people have encouraged me to run for State’s Attorney, many others throughout the Congressional District have said I should think about running for Congress – and I have,” acknowledged LaHood. “Right now, my wife Kristen and I are raising three young boys in Peoria; I want to make certain that this is the safest, most family friendly community that it can be for all citizens throughout Peoria County. With my prosecutorial experience, I think that winning the State’s Attorney’s office allows me to be the most effective in that pursuit. My family fully supports my candidacy and I look forward to a spirited campaign year. Let me offer my thanks to those who pledged their support to me for Congress.”

Darin LaHood is a fourth-generation Peorian, a graduate of Spalding Institute high school and Loras College in Dubuque, IA. He earned his Juris Doctorate at the John Marshall School of Law in Chicago. He maintains an active, volunteer role in the Peoria community: LaHood is an annual runner in the St. Jude Memphis to Peoria Run, sits on the Board for the Center for Prevention and Abuse, is a committee member for the Easter Seals annual dinner, a past Big Brother of the Year for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Organization, was recognized as a 40 Leaders Under Forty in 2006 and is a committee member and volunteer for the IHSA State Basketball Tournament.