FeedPolitics: My lunch with Darin LaHood
December 31, 2007 in Local Tags: courts, Crime, Darin LaHood, Kevin Lyons, lawyers, State's Attorney
I ate lunch with Peoria attorney and would-be Peoria County State’s Attorney Darin LaHood the other day. We met for lunch at Kelleher’s. He had the turkey club, I had the corned beef sandwich. I guess I’m more in touch with my Irish side than he is, especially since he’s of Lebanese ancestry.
(FULL DISCLOSURE: Lunch was his treat, a fact that would be considered highly unethical were I working for a newspaper. But since I reveal my biases out in the open, I don’t have to pretend that I’m not backing the guy, whether or not he bought me lunch at a bar).
We chatted about Christmas, kids (his kids, my nieces and nephews), blogging and the Internet.
Oh, yeah … we also discussed crime. And politics. I’ll refrain from revealing some of the observations he made about other politicians of both parties, and stick to the race in which he is a candidate: Peoiria County State’s Attorney.
It’s no secret to long-time readers that I’m somewhat disenchanted with current Peoria County SA Kevin Lyons. I’ve come to the conclusion that Lyons isn’t the uncaring, unconcerned bureaucrat I’ve accused him of being in the past, and thus I’ve toned down my rhetoric a bit. So, you probably won’t be seeing the phrase “Catch-And-Release Kevin Lyons” on Peoria Pundit. But I still think Lyons is not doing a particularly good job and that it’s time for a change.
Not, coincidentally, that’s what LaHood said throughout our lunch: It’s time for new ideas in the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s office. And after being in office 20 years, Mr. Lyons has run out of new ideas, LaHood says.
Here’s one idea: LaHood wants to appoint specific assistant Assistant SAs to work with neighborhood leaders in Peoria, much like the Peoria Police officers who are assigned to specific neighborhoods in the city. These officers get to know the good guys, the bad guys and the trouble spots that need special attention.
Another idea: Ending the practice of issuing a notice to appear to people with a ton of warrants, or those with a history of causing “quality of life” issues in neighborhoods. Obviously, he and I have spoken to some of the same police officers. The ones I chat with about the issue say they are frustrated with arresting people and seeing tham back on the streets before their shifts are over.
And yet another idea: Less plea-bargaining. LaHood is under no illusion plea bargaining is going to go away. The courts would grind to a halt without it. I told him I just didn’t see the advantage to the law-abiding when repeat knuckleheads are allowed to plead out without any jail time (which is another complaint I hear from officers). He said he wouldn’t make deals with violent offenders, but perhaps give them the opportunity to enter blind guilty please, with no expectation regarding their sentence.
And here is yet another new idea: The state’s attorney ought to behave like a law enforcement official, and treat other law enforcement professionals like professionals. This includes treating police officers like partners, not subordinates. And I would suggest that one aspect of partnering with the police is to not blame them whenever the state’s attorney’s office is criticized.
A big problem, LaHood says, is that people who live a criminal lifestyle know all the players — prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges — and they know how the system works in Peoria County and they play the system to avoid or lessen their jail time. The only people who are afraid of going into court or normally law-abiding people charged with minor crimes or traffic violations.
And of course, LaHood says he’ll meet with Mayor Jim Ardis’ Crime Task Force, something Lyons derided as a waste of time.
I hear very little good spoken about Lyons, except from his more ardent supporters (some of whom post articles and comments here at Peoria Pundit). I have to think that Lyons is worried, but LaHood says he’s running like he’s the underdog. I can understand that, since Lyons can talk a good game. Lyons also enjoys the support of former State Senator/Peoria County Sheriff George Shadid. But then LaHood has something of a resume himself, being a former federal and county prosecutor, as well as the son of retiring U.S. Congressman Ray LaHood, which can’t hurt in politically and electorally.
LaHood asked me a ton of questions about this blog, including how many visitors I get, and what other bloggers are doing what I and C.J. Summers are doing.
LaHood has now met with myself, C.J. (who had a really long and informative piece) and Brad Carter. I think LaHood gets citizen journalism, or at least recognizes it can have an impact in an election. He certainly gets it more than his father does, but then, my Dad doesn’t get blogging either.
December 31st, 2007 at 7:23 am
Review the Hillary Clinton cartoon you posted below and then reflect on the fact that NUMBER TWO on LaHood’s “resume” is the fact that he is the son of Ray.
” I think LaHood gets citizen journalism, or at least recognizes it can have an impact.”
I think Darin has learned well the politician’s art of sucking up to whomever he is talking to at the moment. I am sure he learned this from his father.
December 31st, 2007 at 8:08 am
I enjoyed reading about your chat with Darrin, however if ‘Ray’s my daddy’ and if daddy helped him land a couple high-profile, short-term jobs’, that’s scarey.
Being someone’s son isn’t resume-worthy.
Darris needs his own name, and I would like to know how much time he has & what he has done in his former positions.
December 31st, 2007 at 9:40 am
Nice piece, but you should really read it over before you publish…filled with too many errors. 7th paragraph…Lyans idea? That’s supposed to be LaHood. “Obviously he and I have spoken to talking same police officers.” Nice sentence.
I’m not the grammatical police, but when you write like that you kill your credibility as a smart, independent thinker.
Darin’s a good guy and will do a good job if elected. Thanks for helping him out.
December 31st, 2007 at 9:52 am
Let me get this straight, you have never talked with Lyons about his record, never been to the courthouse (which I assume as you never mention it) and don’t talk to attorneys but you take the word of a political candidate and cops as gospel?
Watch Law and Order. The cops and proscutors there don’t get along. It’s common in the CJS and one of those things that helps drive the system.
December 31st, 2007 at 10:27 am
Isn’t that part of the charge against the prosecutor’s in Cook County, where Lahood worked? that the state’s attorneys looked the other way when cops like Capt. Burge were terrorizing the innoncent and guilt alike. Perhaps if Cook County prosecutors, where Darin first began, had had a little more adversarial relationship with the cops, there wouldn’t be cases overturned for police misconduct (not that Darin minds misconduct in the pursuit of the guilty, just look at his record in Las Vegas).
December 31st, 2007 at 11:46 am
It is intriguing to read about Mr. Lahoods proposed ideas if he were elected, and a case could be made for a change in office. However, I think it would be a good idea for you to interview both candidates and give your readers a more balanced point of view.
December 31st, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Ahhh yes… Billy will do ANYTHING for a free meal…
December 31st, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Tony: As long as it’s not at Buffalo Wild Wings.
December 31st, 2007 at 4:20 pm
You could always invite Mr. Lyons to lunch and do it the professional way: each man pays for his own.
December 31st, 2007 at 11:13 pm
First off, Billy am I correct in assuming that Darin invited you to lunch? That would seem to make sense because he has met with other bloggers as well.
If so, than kudos to LaHood for engaging bloggers. All of you given Billy grief for being impartial or for not talking to Lyons directly. If Lyons wanted to talk he has had the oppurtunity, LaHood wanted to do so and did.
As for whether or not Darin has done enough to make a name for himself, I have a feeling that even if he brought back the head of Medusa some wouldn’t be satisfied. But that’s part of being the son of a congressman.
January 1st, 2008 at 8:47 am
“don’t talk to attorneys”
What’s Eyebrows, chopped liver?
“Isn’t that part of the charge against the prosecutor’s in Cook County, where Lahood worked?”
Are you accusing LaHood of being somehow involved with failure to prosecute police misconduct in Cook County? I don’t know what his job there was (and a quick google has failed me), but Cook County’s prosecutor’s office is ENORMOUS — more than 850 full-time attorneys in six divisions. It’s also divided among areas of responsibility — a prosecutor in one section of the office will never interact with cases and issues (and even attorneys) from another section.
January 1st, 2008 at 9:15 am
Somewhere, I’ve posted a link to the case to which BMCGILL alludes. It is HARDLY misconduct. LaHood simply had a case tossed out because several appellate judges decided he “vouched” for a witness. I read it as simply arguing that the evidence presented by the prosecution witness was more believable than the defense’s explanation. That the pro-Lyons camp keeps bringing this up knowing full well that it’s BS and that every prosecutor loses cases on appeal speaks volumes. Unlike Lyons, LaHood doesn’t go around insulting the intelligence and honesty of the others who rule against him (the prison review board comes to mind).