State's Attorney Campbell humbled by support

SYCAMORE – Returning to his election night celebration at 9:15 p.m. Tuesday, Clay Campbell threw out his arms and grinned while friends and supporters cheered and clapped for him.

Incumbent Campbell garnered the Republican nomination for DeKalb County state’s attorney in the primary election, beating Republican challenger Sean Smith.

A crowd of supporters began arriving about 7 p.m. After leaving to spend time with family, Campbell returned to his gathering at the State Street law offices of Christine Taylor, Jill Konen and Mary Petruchius in Sycamore after 88 of 90 precincts reported results.

“I just wanted to make sure I was victorious. And, last look, I’m victorious,” Campbell told his supporters as Queen’s “We Are the Champions” played on a stereo. “We are victorious.”

With 90 of 90 precincts reporting, Campbell received 6,227 votes to Smith’s 3,447, according to unofficial vote totals from the DeKalb County Clerk & Recorder’s Office.

Campbell was elected state’s attorney in November 2010 in a special election to fill the vacancy left when former Democratic State’s Attorney Ron Matekaitis became a judge. That was Campbell’s third attempt at the office; he had previously spent more than 20 years as a defense attorney.

Smith, who has been an attorney for 12 years, announced in October his intention to run for the Republican nomination.

Surrounded by supporters and friends Tuesday night at Nat’s on Maple in Sycamore, Smith said he thought they ran a good campaign, though he was disappointed with the results.

“I can tell you we worked really hard,” Smith said.

Smith manages the Sycamore law firm Smith, Wykes & Oncken, which includes partners Laurel Wykes Smith – Smith’s wife – and Riley Oncken, a Republican member of the DeKalb County Board.

Smith campaigned on a platform of improving communication with local law enforcement and judicial officials and eradicating gang presence in the county.

Campbell said as state’s attorney, his staff is working to develop strategies to combat drug and gun trafficking in DeKalb and around Northern Illinois University. He stressed Tuesday night that the focus should be on addressing the heroin problem in the county, as well as the need for a greater number of law enforcement officials.

After thanking family, friends, supporters and staff members, Campbell said he and supporters maintained hope, even after losing a couple of races, that “at some point, maybe the cream does rise to the top.”

Campbell said he was stunned when he won in 2010, when there seemed to be a groundswell of support for Republican candidates. He added that it’s humbling to see people are pleased with the job he’s done thus far.

The general election is Nov. 6. There is no Democratic challenger awaiting Campbell, but political parties have until June 4 to caucus in candidates.