Mike Nerheim Seeks New Term As Lake County State’s Attorney 2020

This Patch article is sponsored by Citizens for Mike Nerheim.

Mike Nerheim is running for re-election as Lake County State’s attorney in the 2020 elections. Learn more about Nerheim's campaign, career and priorities in this exclusive Patch one-on-one:

Patch: What attracted you to politics, and how did you get started?

Nerheim: When I first decided to run for this office in 2012, I did it because I wanted to make Lake County safer for my family and all the people of our diverse community.

I began my legal career in 1999 as an assistant state’s attorney. I have extensive experience working in all criminal divisions of the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, handling every type of case including traffic, misdemeanor, domestic violence, criminal sexual assault, drug trafficking, gang-related crimes, crimes against children and the elderly, official misconduct and murder. My in-depth experience includes not only criminal law but also areas of complex civil litigation and municipal law. As a private practitioner, I was appointed by the courts to investigate post-conviction issues and have represented indigent defendants. As a former assistant state’s attorney and defense attorney, and now as state’s attorney, I am respected by the defense bar and victim advocates as well as federal, state and local law enforcement.

My priorities for serving haven’t changed, nor has my passion. Being tough on violent crime and showing compassion for those who find themselves in the criminal justice system because of substance abuse, mental health or other societal issues have been the cornerstones of my approach to this office. I feel my work here is not yet complete. We have made great strides in the last eight years, and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office is now recognized as one of the most innovative, respected and effective prosecutor’s offices in the nation. But the opioid epidemic is still plaguing our community, gun violence in neighboring Cook County is threatening to spill into our neighborhoods, and domestic violence and crimes against children remain serious challenges. There’s more work to do. This office also allows me a platform to promote positive social change and address systemic racism, thereby bringing our increasingly divided community together.

Patch: Tell us a bit about yourself and your campaign.

Nerheim: Through my leadership these past eight years, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office is now recognized nationally for our leadership in combatting the opioid epidemic, wrongful convictions, sexual assault and the abuse of women, and domestic violence, as well as gang prosecution and our leading-edge diversion programs.

Another major aspect of my campaign platform is that I’m not political, nor is my office. I’m highly respected on all sides and have been able to successfully work with legislators and elected officials from both parties to address issues such as the opioid epidemic, criminal justice reform, juvenile justice reform, teen vaping and protecting the environment.

Patch: How long have you lived in Lake County?

Nerheim: I am a lifelong resident of Lake County. My wife, Andraea, and I are raising our three children here. I am the youngest of four siblings, reared to be good citizens, independent and hardworking, always willing to do the right thing and to be there for family, friends and neighbors in need.

Patch: Tell us about your career and service in Lake County.

Nerheim: When I was elected state’s attorney in 2012, I responded aggressively to address and prevent wrongful convictions, tackle violent crime and the emerging opioid epidemic in our community, and to restore the public’s trust in the office. I’m proud to have delivered on every one of my campaign promises and more. Today, Lake County is regarded as one of the most effective and respected offices in the nation and leads on a variety of criminal justice issues, including conviction integrity, the opioid epidemic, teen vaping, sexual assault, gang prosecution, restorative justice and criminal justice reform.

To address the rapidly increasing opiate crisis in our communities, in 2013 I called upon local stakeholders to develop a comprehensive opioid prevention strategy for Lake County. I co-founded and lead the nationally recognized Lake County Opioid Initiative (LCOI) — a collaborative, countywide, multi-strategy effort to prevent opioid abuse, addiction, overdose and death. LCOI is made up of a diverse group of more than 300 leaders from law enforcement, first responders, treatment providers, local hospitals, school districts, government officials, the faith community and people in recovery working collaboratively together on solutions. Lake County was one of the first in the nation to train and equip all first responders with naloxone, the life-saving antidote to an opioid overdose. We have held numerous forums all over the county to educate youth and the community at large, promoted legislative changes with bipartisan support, expanded access to the Text-a-Tip app for teens seeking help, safely disposed of more than 18,000 pounds of unused prescription drugs annually, and created a groundbreaking program called A Way Out that provides a pathway into treatment for anyone seeking help. This program is being modeled across the country. Lake County has become a national leader for our approach to this epidemic. To date, more than 790 people have been connected to treatment, and more than 410 lives have been saved.

Among the many other accomplishments:

• Created national model Case Review Panel to identify and prevent wrongful convictions.
• Diverted people away from the criminal justice system by creating leading- edge Alternative Prosecution Program and improving other programs.
• Acted against teen vaping by taking on the industry with a first-of-its-kind lawsuit in the United States.
• Brought in the services of specially trained facility comfort dogs — the first state’s attorney’s office in Illinois to do so — to help children and disabled victims and defendants in veterans, drug and mental health courts, as well as an electronic detection K-9 to investigate child predators.
• Protected children through our nationally accredited and enhanced Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center, which is committed to providing a safe, child-focused environment for child victims of physical and sexual abuse.
• Promoted social justice by ensuring fairness and equality.
• Increased the diversity of the office as well as transparency and community involvement.
• Recognized by numerous national, state and local agencies, leaders and organizations, including being twice named State’s Attorney of the Year by the Illinois State Crime Commission.

Patch: What are some ways you give back to the community?

Nerheim: I am proud to have been extensively involved in our community my whole life. In addition to co-founding and chairing the Lake County Opioid Initiative, I chair the Lake County Domestic Violence Council, the Lake County Sexual Assault Council and the Lake County Juvenile Justice Council. I was appointed as co-chairman of the Suburban Anti-Heroin Task Force and co-chair the Executive Committee for Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois. In December 2018, I was elected by my colleagues in the 2nd Judicial District to serve on the Board of Governors of the Illinois Office of State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor and was elected by members statewide to serve on the Executive Committee of the Illinois State’s Attorney’s Association. I am on the board of directors of Nicasa, Lake County Bar Foundation, Northeast Illinois Council Boy Scouts of America, Former Inmates Striving Together (FIST) and Arden Shore Child and Family Services. I serve on the College of Lake County Criminal Justice Advisory Board and the advisory boards for Lake County Crime Stoppers and Staben House. I am a former member of the National Commission on Forensic Science Sub-Committee on Human Factors in Washington, D.C. I am a member of the Illinois Juvenile Justice Reform Commission, the Illinois Sexual Assault Evidence Tracking and Reporting Commission, the Lake County After School Coalition, and the Lake County Underage Drinking and Drug Prevention Task Force. I also serve as the Judge Advocate, Lake County Council of the Navy League of the United States and as Teen Court Judge in Warren Township.

In addition, I host and participate in numerous educational and public safety forums across Lake County. I am frequently called upon to lecture nationally on a variety of criminal justice issues, including conviction integrity, gangs, the opioid epidemic and our leading diversion programs. I am on the faculty at Columbia College of Missouri, where I teach “The Laws of Evidence,” “Ethics in Law Enforcement” and “Victims in the Criminal Justice System.”

Patch: If you were to be re-elected, what would be some of your top priorities?

Nerheim: I have been working with county leadership and several community organizations to create a mental health and substance abuse diversion center. This concept would allow people struggling with homelessness, mental illness and/or substance abuse to be diverted from the criminal justice system and provided access to appropriate resources and care. In doing so, we can both take care of them and focus even more of our limited resources on combating violent crime. Currently, many people who end up in the criminal justice system struggle with these issues, which too often results in them being taken to the emergency room or to jail. This is morally wrong and does not address the underlying issue(s). With this center, these people will be diverted away from the criminal justice system so they can get the help they need. This would include a police drop-off option that could be utilized by every police department in Lake County, as well as a walk-in option for those seeking help. The center will be paid for through blended funding including grants and donations.

We must address racial inequities, systemic racism, criminal justice reform and the lack of trust between communities of color and law enforcement. This platform allows me the opportunity to continue to promote positive social change and address systemic racism, thereby bringing our increasingly divided community together. One example of ways to address issues regarding law enforcement accountability is something that I’ve been working on with the Illinois attorney general and a small group of leaders across Illinois to craft legislation to address police licensure. This legislation will help weed out problem officers and provide additional independent review of police misconduct.

Patch: What distinguishes you from your opponent?

Nerheim: I bring multiple types of experience and background that distinguish me from my opponent.

I have been both prosecutor and a defense attorney with over 20 years of experience on both sides of the law. The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office is the third-largest office in the state and one of the largest in the country. To lead this office requires the experience of having been a prosecutor. My opponent has never been a prosecutor.

I have management experience overseeing a staff of 140 people and more than $15 million budget.

I have a proven track record of accomplishments and political independence. I have earned the respect of the judiciary, defense bar, law enforcement, social service agencies and the community as a whole.

I have been extensively involved in the community my whole life, not just when seeking office.

Patch: What’s the most satisfying part about running in this election?

Nerheim: Many people run for office and make promises, only to disappoint the voters. I have a proven track record of doing what I say I’m going to do. I have delivered on every single one of my campaign promises and then some. For example, I promised to create and independent Case Review Panel to address and prevent wrongful convictions, and to implement an Alternative Prosecution Program for first-time nonviolent offenders, and to tackle the opioid epidemic by founding the Lake County Opioid Initiative. These bold initiatives and many others have been delivered on. Over the course of my 20-year career, I have earned a reputation of honesty and integrity both in the way that I run my office as well as in my campaigning.

Patch: How can Patch readers learn more about your campaign?

Nerheim: Visit my website and follow the campaign on social media, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.