DRUG PROSECUTION, CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT CALLED CRITICAL

2002 General Election - McLean County Attorney

The candidates for McLean County attorney agree that the county has
increasing problems with drugs and a continuing problem with child support.

Incumbent Democrat Billy Quisenberry hopes his record will speak for
itself. Since 1990, Quisenberry has worked on initiatives including the
handling of cold checks for merchants, operation of a child support
collection system and addressing the county's methamphetamine issue.

Republican Laura Rushing Eaton views this election as an opportunity for
residents to make changes in its judicial system, at least in the area of
district court. Longtime District Judge Charles Elschide is retiring,
meaning a new judge will be elected to fill the post.

"This is a chance for the county to elect a new judge and a new county
attorney," Eaton said. "I think in order to get the full impact of the
changes this will bring to district court, the county needs new faces in
both positions. It needs fresh ideas and new energy."

Quisenberry said the child support collection program, which collected
$612,483 in 2001, is ranked among the best in the state. Under the program,
anyone is eligible to apply for collection of child support or attain child
support orders.

"It's important to keep people off the welfare system," Quisenberry said.

Eaton is also supportive of the child support collection system.

"Anyone who wants the state to handle child support can come to us and have
us do it free of charge," Eaton said.

Quisenberry added that the enforcement of child support collection is
important because "I think the (parent) that's paying support will more
likely create bonds with that child that are beneficial to that child and
society as a whole."

Both candidates agree that methamphetamine presents a severe problem to the
county, and that the county attorney must be involved in the fight to stop
meth abuse and production. The county attorney has to be available to law
enforcement anytime a search warrant is issued, even if the call comes in
the wee hours of the morning.

"You've got to be there for the police when that call comes, and that call
comes more and more frequently," Quisenberry said.

Quisenberry said it's important to get out into the community to teach
McLean Countians about drugs. Each year the county attorney's office sets
up a booth at the county fair, trying to educate parents and children.

"It's a community problem. It's not necessarily just a law enforcement
problem," Quisenberry said.

Eaton believes harsher penalties may help solve the county's drug problems.

"From my end, I believe there needs to be stiff penalties for drug
offenders," she said. "With the situation in this county and in this
country as a whole, we can't take it lightly. We need stiff penalties for
all offenders that include jail time."

Both candidates bring considerable experience to this race.

Eaton has been practicing law since 1992. In 1994, she began practicing in
McLean County and started practicing here full time in 1997. Eaton worked
as a public defender from 1993 to 1997. In 1997, she began work as a
special prosecutor for child support in Muhlenberg and Ohio counties.

This is Eaton's second attempt at running for county attorney; she also ran
in 1998.

"This is my home," Eaton said. "This is where I raise my children. It's
obvious that I want this to be a safe place for my family."

Quisenberry said he hopes to continue the activities that have helped him
to make an impact.

"I want to keep this community the friendly community, the caring
community, and by working as a prosecutor, I think that lets me have a role
in those activities," Quisenberry said.

Eaton's primary goal, should she be elected, is to make the position much
more accessible to the people of the county.

"My office will be open to the public," Eaton said. "I will be available to
anyone with legitimate goals and complaints. I think that's very important
for a county attorney's office."

Eaton said the county should embrace change, that what it has now is fine,
but that it can have better.

"I think in any position, especially government, change is healthy," she
said. "Otherwise, it might grow stagnant."