From a press release:

LaHood Continues Momentum with $212,000 Raised to Date
Challenger for State’s Attorney leads in contributions and support from law enforcement

Peoria, IL – With a significant cash advantage and unanimous support from the Peoria County law enforcement community, Darin LaHood’s bid to unseat a 20-year incumbent State’s Attorney continues to gain momentum.

“We’ve had an amazing number of individual, local donors contribute to our campaign,” said LaHood. “People realize that Peoria County has the highest crime rate in the State during the past five years and that is simply not acceptable. We’ve got to do something to reverse this trend and voting for a change in the State’s Attorney’s office is a start. I’ve sought input from local law enforcement, kept an open ear to all of the neighborhood groups, and bring to the table solid prosecutorial experience. I believe I am the right candidate for this job and I sincerely thank all those supporting my campaign.”

In his semi-annual financial report filed with the State Board of Elections this week, LaHood’s campaign shows over $212,000 raised to date, with $113,000 remaining on hand. More than 750 individual donors have contributed to the LaHood campaign since he announced his candidacy in October 2007.

Darin LaHood’s proven ability to effectively raise money for his campaign has been bolstered by his prowess in earning powerful support from the law enforcement community. For the last several weeks, police unions from various departments throughout the County have publicly issued endorsements of LaHood’s candidacy including the City of Peoria Police Department, the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department, the Chillicothe Police Department and most recently, the Bartonville Police Department. Law enforcement officials collectively say the present State’s Attorney’s office is ‘disconnected and it is time for a change.’

“We’re going to keep working straight through Election Day,” proclaimed LaHood. “Public safety in our County is at stake and the voters realize that. It’s going to take a lot of money to unseat an entrenched incumbent, but it will also take a strong message of change to convince people to vote differently than they have in the past. My supporters are lining up and we look forward to victory in November.”

Darin LaHood, 40, was born and raised in Peoria. He is a former federal prosecutor who served four years with 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 law with the firm of Miller, Hall, & Triggs. Darin and Kristen are active in numerous Peoria charity and civic organizations and are members of St. Vincent de Paul Church. Visit www.DarinLaHood.com to learn more about the candidate, volunteer opportunities, or to contribute to the campaign.