State's Attorney Tom Gibbons invites opponent to participate in town hall-style debates EDWARDSVILLE -State's Attorney Tom Gibbons believes Madison County residents deserve the opportunity to learn more about the candidates vying for the office of State's Attorney. With this goal in mind, Gibbons has invited his opponent to cooperate in setting up a series of neutral, town hall-style debates across Madison County. "These debates would be the best way to give residents an open forum to ask the questions that matter to them and learn how my opponent and I feel about the critical issues facing our communities," Gibbons said. "I look forward to taking these discussions directly to the people, in a respectful and open way." In the interest of maintaining a fair and objective environment, Gibbons suggested the following guidelines for the debate. All events shall be open to the public and guided by a neutral moderator. Residents may submit written questions up to 15 minutes prior to the event. The moderator will select the questions to be asked during the debate, to be read by the person who submitted each question. Finally, each candidate will have the opportunity to answer each question, with a reasonable time limit for responses. "I'm sure my opponent and I can agree on some basic principles for these events to ensure they remain dignified and respectful of the public's right to hear from the candidates," Gibbons said. "I look forward to working with her in this important effort to reach out to the residents of Madison County." View invitation to debate

Madison County Auditor Faccin to seek re-election

PRESS RELEASE

October 18, 2011

For Additional Information

Contact: Kyle Napp (618) 409-7072

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kyle Anne Napp, of Godfrey, announced today that she is candidate for the office of Circuit Judge. She seeks to fill a vacancy on the bench created by Circuit Judge Charles V. Romani’s decision to retire at the end of his term in 2012. Napp has served as an Associate Judge since 2007.

From 1993 until her appointment as judge, Napp served as a Madison County Assistant State’s Attorney. As a prosecutor, she received special recognition for her passionate and aggressive work on behalf of child victims of crime. In 2001, Napp co-founded the Madison County Trial Advocacy Center with then State’s Attorney William Haine.

Napp was one of only ten prosecutors selected from throughout Illinois to serve as an instructor for the Illinois Appellate Prosecutorial Advocacy Program where she taught trial skills to State prosecutors.

Napp is currently assigned to the circuit court’s Felony Division where she oversees a criminal trial docket. She also presides over the drug, truancy and mental health courts.

In April 2011, local lawyers gave Napp’s performance as a judge an overall approval rating of 95.93% on the Illinois State Bar Association’s Judicial Advisory Poll. This was the highest rating among the Madison County Associate Judges. She also received the highest marks for her integrity (98.39%) and legal ability (97.58%).

Napp is very active in many community organizations including the Child Advocacy Center, Alton YWCA, Wood River Woman’s Club, DARE, Young Authors, SIUE Social Work Club, Senior Services Plus and the Child Abduction Response Team.

Recognized for her service to the community, Napp is the recipient of numerous awards, including YWCA Woman of Distinction, Franklin Lodge#25 Community Builders Award and the Illinois State Police Outstanding Achievement Award. In 2010, Napp was named the Georgia Frontiere, St. Louis Rams, Community Quarterback Volunteer of the Year and honored at a pre-game ceremony in the Edward Jones Dome.

Napp lives in Godfrey with her husband, Allan, and their three children, Ian (14), Aiden (12), and Grace (10), all of whom are students in the Alton School District. Allan is a practicing attorney in Alton, Illinois.

The election for Circuit Judge will be held in November 2012.

Alton attorney to run for county recorder

ALTON - Attorney Amy M. Meyer announced Thursday she is a candidate for Madison County recorder of deeds, recently endorsed by the Democratic Central Committee.

This would be her first run for public office, but some friends approached her recently about running, and she decided to seek the endorsement.

"I've been involved in politics since I was a little girl," she said.

Her experience includes grass-roots-level work for a variety of candidates, she said.

Meyer said her first public appearance will be Saturday before the Alton Democratic Precinct Committeeman's annual fund-raiser.

Meyer returned to her hometown of Alton in 2006 after living and practicing law in Nevada.

She is in partnership with her father, S. Russell Meyer, who has been practicing criminal and family cases for several years.

Amy Meyer graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale Law School in 1997 with a juris doctor degree. She received her bachelor's degree in political science in 1994. She graduated cum laude from the honors program.

She is married and the mother of two children. She lives on Bluff Street, where she grew up.

She said her practice involves helping people who are injured and who are facing foreclosure on their mortgages. The foreclosure cases have given her familiarity with the functioning of the Recorder of Deeds Office, she said.

The March 20 primary is on her 40th birthday, she said. She said she knows of no other Democratic candidate at this time. Party officials met last Thursday and issued endorsements of several candidates.

Meyer's likely opponent will be Republican Matt Rice of Wood River, who was elected last November to fill out the two-year unexpired term of Democrat Dan Donohoo, who retired after several years as recorder.

The general election in November 2012 will be for a full, four-year term.