Lake County Gazette

Lake County State's Attorney candidate Mary Cole stated that Lake County residents, including children, are being affected by fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. She emphasized the need for a new state's attorney to start charging criminals who sell these substances to youth. Cole made this statement on Facebook on June 7.

"The fentanyl and other synthetic opioids found in Lake County are endangering the lives of all residents, but most notably, it is a direct threat to Lake County's youngest residents, who are most likely to experiment with illicit substances," said Cole, according to Facebook. "It is time that we form holistic systems to protect our communities. We need a new state's attorney to start charging criminals who sell poison to our youth and the wherewithal to finish that prosecution instead of letting the criminal off with a slap on the wrist."

In her Facebook post, Cole shared a link to a news release about a drug-induced homicide task force she plans to launch if elected as Lake County State’s Attorney. The task force would be formed in partnership with the police, the county coroner’s office, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Lake County Special Investigations Group, and other entities.

Screenshot of Mary Cole for Lake County State's Attorney June 7 Facebook post. | Mary Cole for Lake County State's Attorney Facebook page

According to her news release, Lake County is expected to receive $3.9 million from settlements with distributors and manufacturers of opioids. Cole intends to use these funds for the task force. The initiative would introduce new investigation procedures, prosecution strategies, community engagement efforts, and tracking systems.

In 2023, The Center Square reported on findings from Families Against Fentanyl showing that Illinois had the sixth highest number of fentanyl-related deaths in the United States. The organization analyzed data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to their report, Illinois was one of 26 states that saw more than 1,000 deaths in a single year. From April 2023 to April 2024, Illinois recorded 2,967 deaths related to fentanyl, slightly down from 2,972 deaths in the previous year.

In November, Cole formally filed her candidacy for Lake County State’s Attorney. Expressing commitment to compassion and accountability for the office, she criticized incumbent Eric Rinehart for what she perceives as a decline in prosecutions and a rise in crime under his leadership. These concerns align with her campaign focus on bringing positive change to the office.

Cole was born and raised in Deerfield and graduated from Deerfield High School. She pursued undergraduate studies at Southern Illinois University and obtained her law degree from John Marshall Law School. According to her website, she is a lifelong resident of Lake County.