OREGON – There now are two candidates seeking the Republican nomination for Ogle County state’s attorney.
Mike Rock of Byron has announced his intent to run against current State’s Attorney Eric Morrow.
“Over the past few years I have been encouraged by people to run for Ogle County state’s attorney,” Rock said in a news release Wednesday.
“That encouragement spiked this fall, and I have decided to run. The states attorney’s office is a critical piece of the justice system and public safety. Many of those asking me to run for this office are in law enforcement who feel that the SA’s office is the weak link in the chain.”
Rock was appointed interim Ogle County state’s attorney in 2013 when then-state’s attorney John “Ben” Roe became a circuit judge. He filled out the remaining 2 years of Roe’s term, but was defeated by Morrow in the March 2014 GOP primary, 4,925 votes to 4,448.
Morrow then was elected state’s attorney in November 2014 to fill out Roe’s term, and ran unopposed in 2016.
Morrow announced his campaign for re-election on Oct. 1.
Rock is chief of staff to the Winnebago County state’s attorney. He and his wife Margaret and their children live in Byron.
