New RICO State's Attorney says he's ready to move forward - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

New RICO State's Attorney says he's ready to move forward

By: Katie Jones

 kjones@cbs4qc.com

As if months of campaigning and winning an election weren't enough, the newly elected Rock Island County State's Attorney said his real work hasn't even started.  He wants to shine new light on an office surrounded in scandal.  John McGehee is the 1st elected State's Attorney since Jeff Terronez resigned early last year for giving alcohol to a minor.

The same minor who had sex with a local teacher and Terronez prosecuted that case.  The new man in charge says he's ready to move the county forward.

"I know that there are many challenges ahead and I'm excited about taking on those challenges," said McGehee.

McGehee said one of those challenges is earning the community's trust.  "I campaigned on my honesty and integrity and a lot of my clients came forward and talked about me and what kind of attorney I was," said McGehee.

 During campaign season debates McGehee was asked how he would do things differently than former State's Attorney Jeff Terronez and he said his experience speaks for itself.

 "I would say that I am very different from Jeff. Jeff was very young when he was elected he was in his early 30's.  I've been practicing law for 23 years in this community so I've been in the courtroom almost daily over that time so I think the voters recognized that," said McGehee.

 So to boost morale in the office and the entire county, McGehee said he'll be out talking to residents and work closely with police to keep the public safe.

 "I'm going to take this very seriously and let people know that there is somebody at the helm who is working hard in the State's Attorney's office," said McGehee.

McGehee said he'll take the next few weeks to transition his clients to new attorneys before he takes over in Rock Island County on December 3rd.