Cook County State's Attorney Candidate: Donna More

CHICAGO — Democrat Donna More is running for Cook County state's attorney. On the ballot, you will be able to vote for one of four candidates: More, incumbent Kim Foxx and other challengers Bill Conway and Bob Fioretti.

You can find More's answers to the Patch candidate questionnaire below:

Donna More, running for Cook County State's Attorney:

Age (as of Election Day)

62

Town/City of Residence

Chicago

Office Sought

State's Attorney

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Spouse, Hud Englehart, 73; Daughter, Maizey Englehart 15

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Georgetown Law, JD; Northwestern, MA; Tufts, BA

Occupation

Attorney - 35 years

Campaign website

www.donnamore.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Assistant State's Attorney; Assistant US Attorney; first General Council, IL Gaming Board

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Our justice system is out of balance. We need to remove the influence of politics and money, which have produced two systems of justice in our County: one for the rich and famous a la Jussie Smollett; the other for the rest of us. It has led to a crisis of confidence in the County's chief prosecutor. People don't trust Kim Foxx to do the right thing.

The system needs of dose of change that begins with an injection of independence. The County needs a prosecutor who doesn't answer to a corrupt political machines or a billionaire ATM. I am the change agent. I'll answer to the law and dispense justice without fear or favor. My independence strikes fear in the corrupt political core of our County.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I’m running because [1] Cook County desperately needs a prosecutor who is independent from the political machine and the influence of big money interests and [2] Kim Foxx must be replaced by a competent prosecutor and an experienced lawyer or the County will continue to suffer from an epidemic of crime with violent and often fatal consequences.

I am the only candidate in the race with felony trial experience both as a state prosecutor and an assistant US attorney. No other candidate has my depth and breadth of professional and legal experience:

As a prosecutor, I managed investigations and tried cases before state and federal juries that have resulted in convictions of murderers, rapists armed robbers; and white-collar criminals. I’ve argued in the Illinois Appellate and Supreme Courts and in the Seventh Circuit Court.

As a gaming regulator, I wrote regulations that govern casinos, oversaw compliance as the first General Counsel for the Illinois Gaming Board, and in so doing helped create a $1.5 billion, 20,000 employee industry for the state.

As a business executive, I’ve helped manage a law firm with 900 lawyers, acted as managing partner of the Chicago office, and sat on the Boards of Directors of publicly traded companies.

As a lawyer, I have been practicing continuously since 1984; and I am currently a civil litigator and recognized regulatory compliance expert.

As an advocate, I gained pardons for three deserving young people who are now leading productive and fulfilling lives.

As an educator, I have taught trial advocacy law at Kent for many years; this Spring I start as an adjunct professor at Northwestern in law and compliance.

As an active member of the legal profession, I’ve contributed to the community and/or been recognized by media and peers for my work.
o CBA Gaming Committee Chair (formed the group).
o President, 500-member International Association of Gaming Advisors.
o Articles for legal journals and mass media publications.
o Mentoring of legal associates.
o 2019 Crain’s Notable Women Lawyers
o 2018 Chicago Business Journal Women of Influence
o 2018 Women Worth Watching
o 2018 Trailblazer in Regulatory Compliance Law
o Best Lawyers in America (2016-2020)
o Pro-bono cases resulting in three pardons.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

The people of Cook County have lacked legal representation and leadership in the criminal justice system for too long.

Kim Foxx talks about progressive reform as a matter of social, not actual justice. She boasts about emptying the jails and not charging offenders as solutions to past injustice. Foxx won’t charge retail theft; repeat gun offenders and carjackers are back on the street with astonishing regularity; and drug traffickers consistently walk without giving up assets or trails to suppliers.

I believe reform ought to be played forward. There is nothing progressive about the threats to public safety that result when we don’t hold people accountable or ignore due process and let violent criminals roam free.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

My vision has accountability at its core. People who commit crimes – regardless of color, creed, position – must be held accountable. If they aren’t, the criminal justice system’s very existence is in jeopardy. And so is the safety of the public.

Realizing the vision involves taking three urgent steps.

I will make law enforcement and elected officials trusted partners of the State’s Attorney Office. We must be a unified community to successfully fight the epidemic of violence and crime against our families, our neighbors, our homes, and our businesses. My approach will be to use smart charging and prosecutorial discretion as tools to build trust, fight crime, and dispense justice.

I will reverse “catch and release” and other non-charging policies to ensure that we are dispensing justice on a case-by-case basis. We must end the practice of categorical dismissals of crimes. For example, Foxx refuses to charge retail theft under $1,000 even for repeat offenders, putting Chicago in top five of cities for organized retail crime.

I will make prosecutorial decisions based on the law with justice and fairness. Politics, celebrity and money will not influence legal decisions nor will they bend the definition of “discretion” to the point of jeopardizing public trust and safety.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have prosecuted murders, rapes, armed robberies and corruption cases from charging to conviction. That means I've actually walked in the shoes of prosecutors who deal with the most violent and complex crimes tried by the State's Attorney's office. My three opponents can make no such claim.

As General Counsel (GC) to the Illinois Gaming Board, I helped launch a $3.0 billion industry. While GC, I wrote and then enforced gaming regulations to ensure public trust. In private practice I help clients comply with the law and I help small and minority businesses get equal treatment from the government.

I have managed large lawyer organizations as a member of the executive committee for a 900 lawyer firm, and as president of lawyer associations with hundreds more.

I worked for and got pardons for three young men who were mistreated by the system.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

[1] Regaining the trust of parents, pastors, police, prosecutors, victims and witnesses as measured by its policy revisions on charging, pre-trial detention (bail reform), and diversion programs that put people back to work rather than back in prison.
[2] Unifying the 130+ law enforcement agencies in Cook County for an all out effort to reduce violent crime.
[3] Putting teeth in the public corruption unit to go after those who cheat our government.
[4] Programs with private sector partners to address mental health and alternative sentencing for young non-violent offenders.

Why should voters trust you?

I am not a politician. I tell the truth. I don't believe in hiding information or creating false narratives. I will pursue criminal justice reforms, with objective assessments of the safety consequences. Voters can count on me to advocate a balanced approach to policy that seeks to keep many nonviolent defenders out of jail without de-emphasizing crime-fighting. My resume speaks to my experience and judgment.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

I am a fiscal conservative. I believe that when we spend taxpayers' money, they have a right to expect us to steward it carefully so we produce a return. I will stop the wasteful spending on high priced outside lawyers that the incumbent has employed. I will emphasize asset forfeiture as a way to get resources to cover expenses. Unlike the incumbent, I will advocate for my budgets at the County Board, not rollover to whatever the Board President directs.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No

The best advice ever shared with me was …

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am a cancer survivor. My encounter with the disease changed my perspective on the need to take action here and now. It gave me the courage to follow my lifelong dream to lead the Cook County State's Attorney Office, the place where I had my first job and learned how to be an effective advocate. I have no aspiration for other offices or appointments. I want to be remembered as an effective, fair-minded lawyer and crime fighter for the people of our County.