Politics & Government

Plainfield Man Says He Wants State's Attorney's Job

Dave Carlson labels James Glasgow an inactive "career politician"; Glasgow spokesman says Carlson "brings very little to the table."

A former prosecutor who lives in Plainfield and practices law in Joliet announced Thursday he will take on Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow in the 2012 election.

“I am running for the office of state’s attorney because the people of Will County deserve better," challenger Dave Carlson said in a released statement.

"This office needs to be led from the top by a trial lawyer, not a career politician," Carlson said. "The state’s attorney should be someone the public sees as leading the charge against crime, someone who is in the courthouse every day, not somebody who appears only for press conferences."

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Carlson worked as an assistant state's attorney under Glasgow and Glasgow's predecessor, Jeff Tomczak.

Tomczak, a Republican, defeated Glasgow in 2000 and the Democrat Glasgow rebounded to retake the office in 2004.

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According to a news release announcing his intention to run for state's attorney, Carlson "prosecuted cases ranging from traffic matters to violent crimes."

"As a former assistant state’s attorney here in Will County, he dedicated himself to ensuring the citizens of Will County," the release said. "As a member of the organized crime unit and lead gang crimes prosecutor he stood toe-to-toe with some of this county’s most violent offenders.

Carlson, father of two daughters, has been the chairman of the criminal law committee of the Will County Bar Association for the past three years.

Charles Pelkie, spokesman for the state's attorney's office, disputed the notion that his boss was nothing more than a "career politician" who "appears only for press conferences."

"This state's attorney is involved in virtually every aspect of this office," Pelkie said, pointing out that Glasgow is "actively involved" in charging many of the cases passing through the office, both major and minor, and that Glasgow is the lead prosecutor on the high-profile Drew Peterson and Christopher Vaughn murder cases.

"Carlson brings very little to the table," Pelkie said. "He's made his reputation wrongfully criticizing the attorneys in our office and wrongfully criticizing law enforcement."


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