Logan County Board appoints Brad Hauge as State’s Attorney

 

[January 04, 2019] 

On Thursday, January 3rd, the Logan County Board held a special meeting to discuss appointing a new state’s attorney to replace Jonathan Wright, who has been appointed as a Judge for the 11th Circuit.

Board members present were Board Chairman Emily Davenport, Vice chairman Scott Schaffenacker, Dave Blankenship, Janet Estill, Bob Farmer, David Hepler, Steve Jenness, Gene Rohlfs, Chuck Ruben and Bob Sanders. Kevin Bateman and Annette Welch were absent.

At the beginning of the meeting, Ruben made a motion to accept Jonathan Wright’s resignation as Logan County State’s Attorney effective January 7, 2019.

Davenport then asked for a motion to appoint Brad Hauge as State’s Attorney and Jenness made the motion. Hauge has been serving as the Assistant State’s Attorney since 2012.

Hepler amended the motion to advertise for the position of State’s Attorney with applications to be accepted at the board office no later than the end of business of Friday, January 18, 2019. Hepler said further action would be at the discretion of the board chair.

Before voting on the main motion and amendment, there was some discussion from board members, community members, and those who have worked with Hauge.

Hepler said, “There are two things I have never supported. One is no bid contracts and another is non-competitive hiring. I think this is the right thing to do. We typically advertise [and] we owe it to other applicants to give them a chance at this position.”

Since an interim state’s attorney can be appointed when the current state’s attorney resigns, Hepler said, “I just can’t support a non-competitive hiring practice... It is not about Hauge but about the process and being consistent and the integrity of it.”

Ruben said it is the appointment of the Chair with confirmation of the board.

Rohlfs agreed with Hepler and said he would like to see what other candidates might be out there. He wondered if Hauge could be appointed interim state’s attorney.

Hauge said the Chief Justice would make the appointment.

The interim could serve for up to sixty days and Davenport said the decision would just come right back to the board then. She wants to keep things flowing.

Hepler had interviewed Hauge about a week ago and said when Hauge was asked about the office being shorthanded, Hauge had told him the State Appellate Prosecutor’s Office would make up for any shortfall in personnel without any costs to the county.

Since that discussion happened, Hauge said he has talked to that office and found that Coles County is in a position where their state’s attorney was appointed to the bench. Their County Board appointed the head public defender to take up the position and Hauge said there are a lot of conflict issues with that appointment with about 100 felony cases and the Appellate Prosecutor’s Office having to put resources and personnel in the Defender’s Office.

Hauge said as result, the Appellate Prosecutor’s Office was not sure how many resources they could provide to Logan County.

Davenport next asked for public comments.

Community member Fonda Robbins, from the new group Citizens Looking at Municipalities, said the group does not feel democracy is served by appointing an “heir apparent” and asked the board to consider open bidding on the position. Robbins said she wanted the board to go back to their constituency and ask what the constituents would like, and she feels it is important to have new programs on restorative and juvenile justice and programs that would save the community and kids.

Robbins said an Interim appointment would be acceptable and she would like to see the job posted like the board has done with animal control and assessor positions.

Davenport said those other positions are appointed and not elected.

Sanders said he felt we do not need someone new in the position who is not familiar with the system, because we can’t have a learning curve in the office. Sanders has talked to law enforcement and the sheriff, and none spoke critically of Hauge.

The board also heard from Lisa Bobb and Nate Kessinger, who work in the State’s Attorney Office. Both Bobb and Kessinger have faith and confidence Hauge would keep things productive and flowing because he knows how the office works. Kessinger said Hauge knows how things run since he has been the Assistant State’s Attorney since 2012.

Hepler’s amendment to advertise for the position failed 8-2.

Hepler and Rohlfs voted yes.

Blankenship, Davenport, Estill, Farmer, Jenness, Ruben, Sanders and Schaffenacker voted no.

Jenness’ motion to appoint Bradley Hauge as State’s Attorney passed with eight yeses and two abstentions.

Davenport, Estill, Farmer, Jenness, Rohlfs, Ruben, Sanders and Schaffenacker voted yes.

Blankenship and Hepler abstained.

Ruben asked Hauge if he would come to most board meetings as Wright had.

Hauge said he would, and that he planned to continue the vision and mission of Wright and run the office how Wright wants it run since Wright was the elected official and Hauge is finishing out the term.
 

Hauge plans to work with victims and law enforcement and leading law enforcement in their efforts and what they are trying to accomplish. Hauge also said he will work with the County Board to support the goals they have individually and as a whole and wants to help the board support their mission, directing them in policies, procedures, and what they can and cannot do.

Hauge is originally from Downer’s Grove. He got his law degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and has been working as the Assistant State’s Attorney since 2012. Hauge said he was interviewed by Jonathan Wright before the election and was hired as the assistant when Wright was elected.

The board will advertise for the Assistant State’s Attorney position.

[Angela Reiners]