Sheriff Considering Run for Attorney General in 2014

Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran is seriously considering a run for Illinois Attorney General in 2014.

Curran has been meeting with citizens around the state and intends to run in the Republican primary in about 15 months, according to a press release from Mark Curran for Illinois.

Curan said his background as both a federal and state prosecutor and sheriff of one of Illinois’ largest and most diverse counties gives him a unique perspective on the state’s top law enforcement office.

“Our state is awash in crime and corruption and we need strong law enforcement leadership in the attorney general’s office,” said Curran. “We can do better.”

Curran, 49, has been Lake County Sheriff since Dec. 2006. Since serving as sheriff, Curran has helped reduce crime through use of special units and directed patrols and has operated an innovative and award winning jail — all while being a careful steward of taxpayer dollars. He was re-elected in 2010 with 63.25 percent of the vote.

He served as a prosecutor in the attorney general’s office from 1998-2002 in units targeting gangs and sexually violent persons. He also handled civll cases representing state police and state corrections personnel. He previously had served as a senior felony prosecutor in the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.

During his time in the attorney general’s office, Curran also was cross designated as a federal prosecutor, advising federal agents and co-prosecuting federal criminal cases.

Curran was a successful private attorney handling criminal and civll litigation until elected Lake County Sheriff in Nov. 2006. He is marred and has three boys.

Curran plans to travel the state in coming months to put together a grass roots campaign operation and to ask Illinois citizens to help shape his agenda for the attorney general’s office. He will make a more formal announcement sometime in 2013.

Submitted by Mark Curran for Illinois.