Hi David,
You said it all with your first few words. I met Kennedy in his office a few months ago and was totally impressed with his quiet, well considered judgements. After about an hour's interview, I left asking myself if this guy was really a politician because he's so understated, so well thought out... I also left thinking that the county couldn't be in safer, better hands.

While you discount a professional article written by a third party as though that is something distasteful, I must strongly disagree. A well educated public and a free press are ideals not just that our nation is built on but ideals that strengthen and invigorate any democracy. Neither candidate has a fair view of their opponent on their website. I'm asking for quality journalism, not people to form their opinion on a single article. Candidate websites are great for hearing how candidates and their supporters feel about them. They tend not to be a great source for facts or fair discussion of both candidates.Journalism, articles which you so quickly dismiss, are the core of information within the democratic system. It is why we fight so hard, from police officers to lawyers to soldiers, to defend the first amendment and rights like it. I can appreciated that your 14 year personal connection to Mike makes you back him. I'm not discounting that at all. However, the implication in your statement that Mike is ethical, honest, and fair is that Chris is not. Frankly I think we're both aware that's not true. Even the Chicago Tribune noted Chris as "[having] a reputation for high ethics[...]" But let's not pretend that journalistic outlets don't have a slant (the Tribune themselves often noted with a Republican slant). If you're aware of a debate between Chris and Mike we can watch please share. Remember, an educated public is the strength of a democracy and the fear of a dictator.

David - the problem is, much of the "free press" has become nothing more than a mouthpiece for the DNC. It no longer provides "true" information for an educated public to use, but rather a "tainted" source that the public may use in conjunction with other sources.

There was a day long ago when the media actually reported the news and had true investigative reporting, no matter the party of the person being investigated.

I think saying that Mike Nerheim has a far greater depth of experience in criminal law is a touch hyperbolic but that's politics for you. I'll let Chris Kennedy's record both as a criminal lawyer and a lawyer in general stand for itself. I am confused however how one can construe a lifetime of work in the criminal justice system as an attorney (prosecutor or defense) as a "fresh perspective". Credit to both Chris and Mike for talking about things like deferred prosecution programs, DNA testing, and 'integrity units'. As a voter I'm just trying to understand the choice I have. And honestly, the only difference I've seen here and elsewhere is that Mike has practiced only criminal law while Chris went outside that box. I agree the primary job of a prosecutor is to follow how written laws pertain to a given case. However as the article says, "While a state’s attorney can only prosecute existing crimes, that person can lobby the legislature to make changes." And again I'm not seeing a substantive difference between my choices. Again, there is an implication in your statement that Mike has a vision to make Lake County a safer and better overall county that Chris does not. Again, this is simply not true. Chris has clearly outlined his own solid plan which would make Lake County a safer and better overall community and add integrity and transparency back to an office and system that sorely needs it. I've not heard from Mike on transparency, have Google and I missed something?

@David, a quick google search brings up several discussions on transparency:

From the Daily Herald: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120918/submitted/309189771/

Prosecutions of several Island Lake officials failed; the current state?s attorney?s office has said it prefers not to prosecute cases involving violations of the Open Meetings Act and other government-related crimes. Should such cases be prosecuted?

Yes. The Open Meetings Act is an important statute to ensure transparency of the government process. As State?s Attorney, I will create a Public Integrity Unit that will investigate and prosecute crimes involving official misconduct, public corruption and fraud, and will ensure the public is given access to all the information to which its entitled from its government.

Grayslake Patch: http://grayslake.going.com/articles/lake-county-state-s-attorney-candidates-say-cameras-bring-transparency-to-courtroom

Michael Nerheim, one of three Republican candidates, agrees victim and witness rights need to be protected, and that cameras could inhibit cooperation from potential witnesses. However, the Gurnee resident and Waukegan attorney supports the ruling because it provides transparency to courtroom proceedings.

Lake County Journal: http://elections.lakecountyjournal.com/candidate/615/Mike-Nerheim/

What would change with how the office is run and how would you do it?

One of my top priorities is preventing wrongful convictions and restoring the public’s trust in the office. Being State’s Attorney is about making tough decisions and the toughest decision a State’s Attorney has to make is deciding when not to charge cases where there is insufficient evidence. My plans include creating an independent Case Review Panel, developing protocols for the prosecution of cases with forensic evidence and improving training for prosecutors and law enforcement. I will promote transparency and a culture in the office that is open to looking at all different kinds of evidence to ensure the right people are being prosecuted. I will also focus on the growing problem of gangs and gang violence in our community. I will create a Public Integrity Unit to investigate and prosecute crimes involving official misconduct, public corruption and fraud. I will bring an increased focus on victims and victims’ rights. One of the programs I will bring to Lake County is an Alternative Prosecution Program for first-time non-violent offenders to earn a second chance to make good, and to better benefit the community and victims. For a complete list of my priorities, visit mikenerheim2012.com.

More can be found on google at: https://www.google.com/search?client=browser-rockmelt&channel=omnibox&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=nerheim+on+transparency

So, you are in favor of giving 17 year old gang bangers who kill innocent people a pass because they are "young". That is the problem.

because hour country is screw up, that why.

Just to set the record straight there are no familial ties between Chris Kennedy and the political Kennedy family. Sharing a last name and sharing a legacy are two different things. It's like never voting for another Nixon because everyone sharing the last name of Nixon must be a crook. Frankly, whether it's a last name or a party label skipping over candidates without learning who they personally are and what the platform they are running on falls far short of our civic duty that so many have fought and died for. I encourage all of us to look at both candidates in every race and to cast our vote for the person we feel best qualified for that position.

There's a surprise. The Tea Party supports Nerhiem.

It's always fun to see ad hominens instead of facts. Too funny there WW.

And it's also always fun to see someone use big words to make themself sound smart and then misspell them. Hilarious.

You know what is funnier? Someone who corrects someone's spelling, totally off subject and trying to attack the poster, but is incorrect themselves. Now THAT'S funny!

Even funnier someone using their real name and then pretending to be another poster supporting that person and thinking using their initials will fool everyone.

lol @WW, love the conspiracy theory. BTW, I post just as myself with my real name. I don't need to hide behind and alias.

I am me, he is someone else. I am not multiple users like "some people" on here. Quit playing games.

Double barrel Lennie! Love it!

Walter - what a surprise, knee-jerk liberals support whomever the democratic party puts forth in IL - there's a surprise.

I like Chris and I have met him, but I am hesitant to support anyone beholden to the Democratic power brokers and unions that have run this state into the ground.

Disruptive? Thank God for disruptive! Disruptive means that Chicago style politics are being challenged and the fact that you say he doesn't give up, well, many people do give up that shouldn't, but are being threatened in some way to just that. My family has suffered at great cost at the hand of business as usual.

Mike is the only hope for this race to NOT have Chicago here in Lake County. That is why his supporters on here are so hard pressed to have people vote for Kennedy. In my opinion, Kennedy = Chicago. I don't want dead people voting in Lake County and the kind of underhanded dealings that Chicago politics bring.

Yes, I do have a history of standing up for what is right, uncovering corruption, unethical behavior, and wasteful spending. If you would like to discuss those issues more in depth I'd be happy to do so sometime.

I do find it interesting that you and others who are using the "When did you stop beating your wife" approach to accusations. That tactic is rampant this political season and is totally dishonest.

Who beat his wife? Lennie or LMJ?

Keep on going there @WW, it is good that everyone else can see what type of person you truly are; a person who just attacks others with baseless accusations.

So you're not a member of the Tea Party?

Just to be clear "When did you stop beating your wife?" is a reference to logical fallacy called Loaded Questions. The lack of a question mark makes this reference just not fit at least in the case of Ms. Oetker's first post.

Considering I've seen plenty from straw man fallacies, like this "Chicago politics" argument below,so I don't think anyone can play the "holier than thou card".

I'm sorry but the idea that we need to charge people as adults if they can get birth control without parental consent is insane. The two are totally separate issues. On that basis can you explain to me why I can vote and die for my country at 18 and not drink or own a handgun until 21? Graduated rights is a tradition that has held in this nation for centuries, it works both to reduce incidents of misuse of those rights (DUI) and to create a better environment (birth control access for example leads to lower abortion rates, high wages for women, along with other health benefits).

Mr. Jarrett: I was very surprised to see your comments. I recall having met you only once, approximately a year ago at the Round Lake Beach Cultural Center and I specifically remember speaking with you about this topic, albeit briefly. I was with my family and you approached me. You asked me if I would prosecute violations of the OMA and similar statutes by elected officials and I said "Yes, absolutely." I then said, "That's an easy question. Now ask me a hard one." You smiled, said "okay" (or "all right") and walked away.
Your characterization of our exchange using terms like "danced around the issue," "indecisive" or "soft" is incorrect. My statement to you then was unequivocal, as is my commitment to pursuing justice without regard to any person's position, political party, or connections.
I have a track record here, as well. I have taken on public officials in my private practice and will continue to do so as State's Attorney. I don't simply talk about these values, I have lived them too.

OUCH. So you are saying that Lenny/LMJ might be fabricating stories for political purposes? Say it ain't so! The Tea Party is such an honorable organization I just couldn't imagine such a thing. I guess the Patch isn't a "no spin zone"

Mr. Kennedy, you are correct that we first met at the RLB Civic Center. You are not correct on me asking about the OMA (Open Meetings Act). I asked you the same questions I asked every candidate for State’s Attorney I met: If elected would you prosecute cases of taxpayer resources being used to aid a candidate; secondly since the statute of limitations would not be up after your election would you go back and prosecute a vote fraud case in which a sitting school board member committed at least 2 felonies (according to the State’s Attorney) by giving gift cards to 18 year olds she registered to vote?
I assumed you did not know the specifics of the case in D46, which you said you did not, so I gave you a rundown of the case. To which you replied, you’d have to look at more specifics. That is understandable. You then made a remark about some of the evidence in the case that I had not mentioned, letting me know that you were aware of more of the specifics than what you had stated when we started. You did continue to dance around the issue and when you finally said something about all felonies should be prosecuted even in the public sector it was in a general sense and not the answer to my question.

Quit playing games, Mr. White. I am not Lennie. I have been watching this board though. You are acting like Biden last night. LOL

And you are like Ryan. You got caught in a lie. Own it.

You must mean Biden, who claimed to have voted against both the Iraq and Afganistan wars, since both were funded on a "credit card" (whatever that means).

You should actually read @WW. I corrected Mr. Kennedy already about the questions and have provided him another chance to answer the questions, this time publicly.

As I have offered to others, please come out to a townhall sometime and learn the truth for yourself, instead of continuing spreading false statements.

I've seen all I need to see Lennie/LMJ. You have zero credibility.

Finally, getting to the core of the issue first stated. The criminal justice system should be interested on outcomes. Teen offenders should not just be put away. The crime should be looked and the possibility of rehabilitation, not just punishment.

Yes, I have been to the SA's Office. That is the reason I will vote for Mike Nerheim. He can look at the facts and make a decision. Kennedy just dodged the question with no real answer. It is clear who we need in Lake County. We need Mike Nerheim, not the indecisive Kennedy.

I provided concrete reasons as well for supporting Nerheim.

You should read more of my writings and you will see I do call out anyone who is corrupt, regardless of their party and have been doing so for years. Waller was one of them for his lack of prosecutions for public sector crimes.

The choice in this race is who will be the person that will prosecute EVERY case fairly and judiciously. From my interacting with both candidates, Nerheim WILL do this whereas Kennedy seems as indecisive and soft as Waller on public sector crimes.

I have and will continue to fight for transparency and to hold elected officials accountable. If you call that "your loud proclamation on things that you don't approve" then you are distorting my record of fighting for the taxpayers of Lake County and Illinois. If you are willing to distort my record, why should anyone believe you won't distort the record of Chris or Mike Nerheim for your political purposes or candidate?

LOL, I just love all the you are guilty unless you prove yourself innocent posts. Then some the straw man arguments et al. These are all just a distraction from the real issues and deflection away from the State's Atty race candidates.

*some should have been come

Lennie:
You are aware , I assume of the body of Chris's legal and legislative work.
You are aware that Chris Kennedy defended the School Board Member in North Chicago who blew the whistle on the bribery going on with Quality Transportation.
Clearly, he will prosecute white collar crimes including the use of tax payer resources for a specific candidate.

I would suggest that he start with the sitting Republicans who used their offical office to send out literature clearly for their relection campaign - example Sandy Cole and Bonnie Carter Thompson, who by the way never sent out any communication to her consituents until Pat Feruzza ran against her this time. I am her constituent. Pat will communicate on a regular basis with her consituents. She will bring transparency to the Lake County Board and, she is not a professional politician that is wracking up a large pension.
You do know that Kennedy cannot comment on a specific case that he well may have to decide whether to prosecute or not. If Mike told you he would, there is a problem commenting on a case.

I welcome your help at begin a watchdog in the county. We need all the help we can get since their are so many taxing bodies here. If you need to know how to do a FOIA, I can train you easily enough and even write it for you if you wish. Once you have the evidence I will gladly publish it in the appropriate outlet and help you with strategies to stop the problem from occurring again. Please feel free to email me any specific areas you want to watch over by contacting me at my website: http://LennieJarratt.com. I eagerly await your help in holding all elected officials accountable.

As to commenting on a specific case, that is correct while it is still under investigation. In the case I asked all available SA candidates about, the investigation was complete so the question could be answered. If you are trying to claim it could not be, then the case the DNA case could not be discussed either.

Yes I asked Mike those questions as I stated multiple times now. I also asked every other candidate running in the primary from both parties that I came across. One of the GOP candidates (that lost) deflected this question as well and actually got angry when asked. I made sure to work against that candidate.

I do find it hilarious that you want me to do your research for you. If I spent all day providing research to others who say I am guilty unless I prove myself innocent, I would never get any work done.

It's obvious the intent of those remarks. It's a deflection from the issue at hand and it is untrue. I have writing all over the internet and it is easy to find some links. I have lost friends on facebook because of it as well. We also had a discussion on twitter on this topic a while back.

It is also clearly obvious you have not attended any of the events back during the primary or past townhall meetings I was involved in. If you had, you would have seen first hand who I was calling out for inappropriate policies and behaviors.

If you do not have the time to do your own research, contact me after the election, when I have more time and I will gladly point you in the right direction so you can find out the truth instead of continuing more false accusations.

Like I said, I asked every SA candidate the same questions.

On your other accusation, that is just funny. You expect me to protest every wrong doing on every issue and by every elected official across Lake County. Wow, I'd never get any sleep OR work done.

BTW, the stigma you claim is only held by those who don't like to be held accountable by the people who pay the taxes and elect them. You should have read my campaign literature and website about what the Establishment Republicans called me when I announced I was running for office.

If you would like to volunteer to help as a watchdog please feel free to do so. I have been recruiting other education watchdogs (which you know is my focus) including the 2nd largest school district in the state. I'll be waiting.

@Swapna siad, "Lennie U R asking Chris about specific incidents..U Know full well he cannot say anything w/o knowing particulars", That is correct while a case is still under investigation. In the case I asked ALL available SA candidates about, the investigation was complete so the question could be answered given all the information I provided. If you are trying to claim it could not be, then the case the DNA case could not be discussed either. The investigation was complete on that case as well.

You are accusing me of not be bipartisan in my research and you want me to prove myself innocent of your charges. As I stated earlier "If you do not have the time to do your own research, contact me after the election, when I have more time and I will gladly point you in the right direction so you can find out the truth instead of continuing more false accusations."

Here's a tip, go look at the voting records of the school board members in Grayslake D46. You will see that they are members of both main parties.

I'd still like to see Chris answer my questions since he did not the first time when we met. Mike already did answer them in the affirmative for both as I stated early in this post.

Yes, it is a crime and people have been arrested for it in past elections. They have to be charged criminally. As I found out with school boards, you cannot remove someone from elected office unless they are convicted of a felony. This is even if the SA has concluded they have committed felonies. Conviction is the key. Misdemeanors violators do not warrant removal.

Other boards or offices may have different variations since I have seen Buffalo Grove remove a trustee before. Maybe Chris or Mike can give us a more definite answer on this one.