Lake County Gazette

Lake County State's Attorney candidate, Mary Cole, expressed her gratitude to the Lake County Sheriff's Office and law enforcement for their efforts in combatting the distribution of illegal drugs. "I thank them for working to keep our communities safe from deadly illegal drugs," said Cole, who is set to compete against incumbent Eric Rinehart in the upcoming general election. She affirmed her unwavering support for law enforcement, stating that she stands with them "now and always."

"Thank you to the Lake County IL Sheriff's Office and the men & women of law enforcement for working to keep our communities safe from deadly illegal drugs," said Cole, according to Facebook. "I stand with you in solidarity now and always."

Cole referenced a Facebook post dated April 11 by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, which showcased the accomplishments of its Special Investigations Group (SIG) in 2023. The SIG is described as a "High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) funded task force," according to the Facebook post. The group reportedly seized "over 17,000 fentanyl laced pills; over 120 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms; nearly 10 pounds of powder cocaine and nearly 10 pounds of illegally trafficked cannabis." Additionally, SIG confiscated close to 900 grams of methamphetamine.

Screenshot of Mary Cole for Lake County State's Attorney April 11 Facebook post. | Mary Cole for Lake County State's Attorney Facebook page

Sheriff D. Idleburg praised the efforts of SIG in his statement on the Facebook post. "Our Special Investigations Group is making a major positive impact in our community. They successfully stopped over 17,000 deadly fentanyl pills from being sold throughout Lake County, which undoubtedly saved many lives. Over the last five years, SIG has removed nearly $20 million dollars’ worth of drugs being trafficked in Lake County. The partnerships and collaboration between SIG’s member agencies are major reasons that SIG is so successful," Idleburg said.

In November, Cole officially registered her candidacy for Lake County State’s Attorney, promising compassion and accountability if elected to office. According to a news release from Lake County Gazette, during the broader Illinois election season, Cole actively collected signatures and positioned herself as a vocal critic of Rinehart while advocating for safer communities. With her background as a former assistant state’s attorney in Lake County, she emphasized her dedication to addressing issues such as low morale and inadequate attorney training within the office.

In contrast to her opponent, Eric Rinehart, Cole has received attention for her focus on supporting law enforcement rather than advocating anti-police political agendas. Rinehart has been criticized for prioritizing politics over his responsibilities, especially with his support for the SAFE-T Act and his hesitance to collaborate with state’s attorneys of differing political beliefs. Lake County Republicans issued a press statement urging voters to reject Rinehart’s re-election bid due to his far-left agenda, arguing that it is out of step with the views of everyday Illinoisans, according to an August news report from Lake County Gazette.