Ogle County Board Chairman Kim P. Gouker announced he will recommend the appointment of M. Thomas Suits to fill the pending vacancy of Ogle County State’s Attorney. The news release continues, "On Thursday, Chairman Gouker, with Vice-Chairman John Finfrock, and Board Members Greg Sparrow, Bill Welty and Bruce McKinney, interviewed four candidates to fill this position. Gouker stated that following the interviews, the Ad Hoc Committee discussed at length each of the candidates backgrounds and interview responses, and reached a unanimous consensus to advise Chairman Gouker that Attorney Suits should be the recommendation. County Board Chairman Gouker stated, pending an approval vote of the County Board, that Attorney Suits will become the next Ogle County State’s Attorney, on January 7, 2013, or earlier, depending on a yet to be received resignation letter from current State’s Attorney John B. “Ben” Roe.
The pending vacancy of the Ogle County State’s Attorney position, is due to the recent appointment by the Illinois Supreme Court of Ogle County State’s Attorney Roe to fill a vacancy in the position of Ogle County Resident Circuit Judge. Mr. Roe’s appointment to the Circuit Court, is effective January 7, 2013.
By state law, the appointment of a successor State’s Attorney will only be valid for the remainder of the first two years of the current four year term to which Mr. Roe had been recently elected. A special election for Ogle County State’s Attorney, will be held to fill the final two years of the term, at the next General Election to be held Tuesday, November 4, 2014."
