Lake County Gazette

Lake County State’s Attorney candidate Mary Cole celebrated an overwhelming turnout at her Dec. 13 fundraiser.

The night was filled with camaraderie and goodwill at Shakou in Libertyville as the event provided an opportunity for supporters to join the festivities, show their backing for Cole’s campaign.

“What an incredible night of support!!” Cole said on Facebook.

“We expected about 60 people to attend our fundraiser Wednesday at Shakou in

Libertyville... but, by the time it was all over, we had about 160 people show up!!”

“Shakou was packed all night long and people really came out in force to show their support for my campaign!! It was AMAZING!!”

“I can't thank everyone enough... first I'd like to thank our sponsors: Steve Svenden, Joel Kennedy, and Shakou Restaurants in Libertyville for putting all of this together. Thanks to the Waukegan FOP for their endorsement AND their donation to my campaign.

“A huge thank you to State Sen. Dan McConchie for his amazing speech welcoming everyone. Thanks to Lake County Republican leadership (Keith Brin, Margie Kubalanza, Dan Rogers, Bonnie Quirk, Marco Sukovic, Ray Lester... (I know I'm forgetting people and I'm sorry, there were so many people there and I'm going off memory...) And a HUGE THANK YOU to EVERYONE for coming by. Seriously, the place was packed from the moment we opened until one hour after we were supposed to close. It was everything we could have hoped for!!”

Steve Svendsen, Joel Kennedy and Shakou Restaurants joined forces to host an evening of holiday cheer in support of Mary L. Cole's State's Attorney campaign.

The event took place on Wednesday, Dec. 13th, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Shakou in Libertyville.

Guests enjoyed cocktails and sushi at the vibrant Shakou restaurant, providing a festive atmosphere for supporters to connect and celebrate the holiday season.

The fundraiser aimed to gather backing for Cole's candidacy.

Individual tickets were priced at $200, and couples could attend for $350.

Sponsorship opportunities were also available for those wishing to contribute at different levels.

In late November Cole officially filed the necessary paperwork to run as Lake County State’s Attorney, solidifying her candidacy.

When announcing the milestone, Cole expressed her commitment to bringing compassion and accountability to the Lake County State’s Attorney Office.

As the broader election season in Illinois commenced on Sept. 5, candidates, including Cole, actively collected signatures.

Cole, a vocal critic of her opponent, Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart, emphasizes a commitment to a safer and more secure future, contrasting the controversial policies criticized during her opponent’s tenure.

In September, Linda Brougham Cardella of the Vernon Township Republican Organization featured Cole as a speaker at the group’s monthly meeting.

Cardella expressed concern about the recently implemented SAFE-T Act in Illinois, claiming it will make the state more unsafe.

Cole, a former assistant state's attorney in Lake County, emphasized her commitment to addressing issues like low morale and inadequate attorney training in the office during her campaign for the November 2024 election.

She criticized incumbent Rinehart, stating that prosecutions are down, crime is up, and the office is in chaos under his leadership.