Lowering Chicago gun violence, reforming the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and targeting public corruption are just a few areas Donna More will work to improve if she’s elected Cook County State’s Attorney in the Democratic Primary election on March 15.
More, 57 and a former federal and state prosecutor, is running against incumbent Anita Alvarez and Kim Foxx, former assistant state’s attorney for Cook County and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s former chief of staff.
“The State’s Attorney is not just responsible for convicting the bad guys, but protecting the innocent as well. Alvarez hasn’t done that in the past seven years and shouldn’t be re-elected,” More said. “This is a tough job. We need someone who’s independent and will do right by the voters in Cook County.”
The candidate’s inspiration for law enforcement sprouted in her younger years from watching her dad, a former lawyer who she calls her role model, speak for one of his clients in a Cook County courtroom.
“I listened to my dad give a voice to someone who didn’t have a voice. My biggest regret is that he’s not here to see me running for office,” More said of her father, who passed away ten years ago. “I miss my dad every day. I feel inspired in doing this for my dad; it’s something very special to me.”
More’s plan on cracking down on gun violence will focus on establishing centralized gun ports, using the Cook County grand jury more effectively to investigate gun violence cases and establishing a Cook County Safety Alliance.
The former federal attorney said 90 percent of guns in Cook County are illegal.
“Gun ports will enable prosecutors and judges to learn about gun trades,” said More, who has previous experience managing murder and gun cases before a jury. “My goal is to get to the importers and sellers of illegal weapons.”
For the alliance, More plans to gather input from Cook County constituents, prosecutors, police officers, teachers, aldermen and state representatives.
“We have good information from law enforcement officials on who’s committing these crimes,” she said.
More said a change of philosophy in the state’s attorney’s office should be immediate and implemented on day one.
“People don’t trust the state’s attorney’s office to do the right thing; they think the state’s attorney is unfair,” More said. “We need to restore community trust and let them know we have their back.”
Following the evidence no matter where it leads and prosecuting crime no matter who commits it are ways to put an end to public corruption, said More.
“Most of our men and women in blue do a great job of protecting our city, but if they step over that line and commit a criminal act, we will prosecute promptly,” More said. “If the judge hadn’t released the video for the Laquan McDonald case, the officer who shot him would still be on the streets and Alvarez wouldn’t have made a charge; that’s unacceptable.”
