Clinton native Karle Koritz announced his candidacy Thursday as a Republican for DeWitt County State’s Attorney. Koritz has served as an assistant state’s attorney in McLean County since 2007 where he prosecutes felony crimes.  In that time, he has taken over 50 cases to trial ranging from DUIs to Class X felonies and homicide.  Before becoming a prosecutor, Koritz was an associate attorney with a Peoria firm. 

Koritz says he has learned that success as a prosecutor requires good working relationships with the various law enforcement agencies in the county.  He has met with Clinton Police Chief Mike Reidy, DeWitt County Sheriff Jered Shofner, and leaders in the Illinois State Police District 6 and Task Force 6 to discuss issues facing DeWitt County and to determine how best to participate in a cooperative effort to combat crime locally

Koritz seeks the office which will be vacated by his father, Dick Koritz, who announced Thursday that he intends to retire at the end of his present term.  While the two have never worked together in a professional capacity, the younger Koritz believes they share the conviction that a prosecutor’s duty is to pursue what is right and just without regard for political consequences.