Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon Not Seeking Re-Election

KANE COUNTY, IL — Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon announced in a statement Tuesday that he will not seek re-election, just months before the 2020 election. In a letter, McMahon said he met with his staff Tuesday morning to share his decision. While the state's attorney didn't provide a reason for his decision to not seek re-election, he did acknowledge a number of people and recalled several moments and achievements that stood out during his time as Kane County State's Attorney.

"Since December of 2010 it has been my pleasure and honor to serve as State's Attorney for the people of Kane County," McMahon stated in his letter.

The Republican official also stated he had "the pleasure of working with dozens of board members and countrywide elected office-holders from both the Republican and Democratic Parties."

“I wanted to serve as state’s attorney because I believe in public service and that as state’s attorney, I could have a positive impact on the lives of people who live and work in Kane County,” McMahon wrote. “My job as the chief legal and law enforcement officer for the county has been to seek justice. Sometimes, that meant pursuing severe penalties for severe crimes and sometimes it meant offering second chances to good people who made poor choices.”

Among McMahon's noted achievements is his role as special prosecutor in the case against Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke, who was convicted in the 2014 shooting death of Laquan McDonald, according to his letter.

“That case was a test of our justice system,” McMahon stated in his letter. “I am proud that I was selected to handle such an important case and incredibly proud of the work that my staff and I put into that prosecution.”

Related:

• AG, Special Prosecutor Challenge Van Dyke's Sentence
• Testimony Begins In Jason Van Dyke Trial

McMahon did touch upon conflict he said his and his office's "independence at times created with "members of both parties and some of other County office-holders," nothing that his independence or disagreements were motivated by his believe in the rule of law.

“It is my hope that my successor maintains the integrity, professionalism and commitment to justice that has been so important to me and my colleagues over the last 10 years,” McMahon stated in the letter. “The citizens of Kane County deserve no less.”

>> Read McMahon's entire letter