PEORIA, Ill. – The candidate’s for Peoria County State’s Attorney were able to discuss their views during a candidates forum Saturday at the Peoria Public Library’s North Branch.
The forum was hosted by the League of Women Voters for Greater Peoria.
Incumbent Democrat Jodi Hoos is facing a challenge from self-employed attorney Robert Boucher.
25 News reports Hoos said her experience as the current prosecutor makes her a great candidate, and argued that Boucher’s 40 years of legal background is missing prosecution and public servant experience.
“I want to use even more technology. We’ve been good on the technology side, but I would like to use it for victim and witness notifications so they can be notified sooner when a case gets continued or pled out,” said Hoos.
Hoos also said she wants to continue to work closely with what she calls “major stakeholders” such as Peoria Public Schools [District 150], Peoria Police Department, and local judges and public defenders.
Boucher argued that his roots in the river city and experience in practicing with other counties make him a good fit for the role.
He claims Hoos’s office has not been able to retain staff, which he said may be a challenge for him if he is elected.
“I on the other hand have run large law offices, I’ve managed several people, and we all know it comes with respect, and with common decency,” said Boucher. “That would be one of the issues, is trying to restaff this office and trying to get it up to speed.”
Boucher also said he would be more of an accessible attorney and claims Hoos is not transparent in her communication style.
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