Courier delivers message during campaign rally

By C.L. Smith
Reporter
BELVIDERE – State’s attorney incumbent Michelle Courier had a clear message for voters on Tuesday, Feb. 16, at the Belvidere VFW club: don’t fix what isn’t broken.
Supporters of Courier packed the hall, with well over 100 community members in attendance, to listen to Courier talk about her continued plans for the future, as well as getting a chance to hear what she’s been able to accomplish over the last eight years during her two terms.
Courier highlighted her administration’s tough stance on crime by stating, “We have aggressively prosecuted gang related crimes and our streets are safer now than they were eight years ago,” Courier said, “and that’s because of action, not words.”
Being tough on crime has its necessary place in the state’s attorney office, according to Courier.
On the flipside, she wanted voters to know that she is reasonable and gave the example of her First Offender Program. The program is designed to give first time, non-violent offenders a second chance. ‘“We’re making sure that that person is held accountable for their actions, and yet not branded a felon for the rest of their lives,”’ Courier said during an interview with WIFR in 2013.

Belvidere Mayor Mike Chamberlain was in attendance offering his support for Courier’s re-election bid. Mayor Chamberlain spoke about the importance of keeping Courier’s result-oriented administration in office.

“Everything she has said that she was going to do, she has done,” Mayor Chamberlain said.
Also on hand to show his support was First Presbyterian Church Pastor Bob Kopp. Kopp hammered home the idea that the state’s attorney has to be tough to effectively combat crime, something Courier has proven, according to Kopp.
He spoke vaguely and warned about an unnamed campaign when he said, “But before I fall for a reckless, dangerous campaign that has not been telling the truth about Michelle Courier, I’m still asking the question, why fix what isn’t broken?”
Courier, who was born and raised in Boone County, graduated from Belvidere High School, received her Bachelor’s from the University of Illinois and her Doctor of Law (J.D.) from Illinois University College of Law. Courier worked as Assistant State’s Attorney from 1998 to 2000.
Afterwards, she worked in the private sector from 2000 to 2004 before eventually running and winning the 2008 State’s Attorney election.
Courier faces Tricia Smith in March’s Republican primary election. The winner will move on to November’s general election.