South West Illinois News

Monroe County Clerk Jonathan McLean was one of those who voted unanimously to select political newcomer Ryan Webb to replace outgoing Monroe County State’s Attorney Lucas Liefer.

McLean told Southwest Illinois News the choice came down to Webb and former state senator Paul Schimpf. 

“They both threw their hats in. The Republican Party interviewed them and Paul did not get it and it was unanimous,” McLean said. The vote was 25-0 in favor of Webb. “The committee voted last night to recommend that Ryan Webb get the appointment and today the county board of commissioners voted and approved,” McLean said. 

“So it's final now. Paul did not do not get that spot and so now we'll see what Paul does. Paul says he's going to run and, you know, run against the candidate that we chose. So it's kind of interesting what's going on here.” 

McLean said while Schimpf – a former military prosecutor who participated in the trial of former Iraqi Saddam Hussein – had a “high name ID” he did not have recent experience as a practicing attorney.

“He's never practiced outside of military service,” McLean said. “

When Paul retired, he moved back to Monroe County and then he immediately began. He ran in 2014 for attorney general. In 2016, he ran for state Senate. And then in 2020, he gave up his seat, his Senate seat, because he thought that he was going to get a federal judgeship, but that judgeship never materialized and he ended up giving up his senate seat to Terri Bryant. So then his next course of action was running for governor and we know how that ended up.”

Schimpf told the Republic-Times he is running for the slot regardless of how the local party voted. 

"I will be a candidate regardless of how the appointment process shapes out," Schimpf said. 

"The state's attorney works for the people of Monroe County, not the Republican central committee, not the Republican party chairman. The people of Monroe County are the ones that should be deciding who the next state's attorney should be, so I will be a candidate regardless of what the outcome of the appointment process is.” 

That race is set for November 2024.

Schimpf last held office in 2021 as a member of the Illinois Senate where he’d served since 2017. He ran for attorney general in 2014 and ran in the GOP primary for governor where placed fifth with 29,117 votes out of 661,162 cast.

The position came open after Liefer and Monroe County Assistant State’s Attorney Jennifer M. Becker-Roscow was selected as a judge to serve in the newly created 24th Judicial Circuit. 

They will be seated on Feb. 28. 

Webb has reportedly joined the office in advance of the official transition. 

“The state’s attorney is a unique position in that it has an impact, and sometimes it is a quiet one, because ultimately it’s a position that allows you to ensure that victims of crime in this county receive the justice they deserve,” Webb said, according to the Belleville News Democrat. 

“It’s one that allows you to support our wonderful local law enforcement and it’s just one that you generally keep the citizens safe.”

The Monroe County Republicans trumpeted Webb’s selection. 

“After an extensive interview process, the Monroe County Republican Central Committee selected Ryan Webb to be our next Monroe County State's Attorney. County commissioners approved Ryan Webb today and he will take office February 28. It was clear that Ryan Webb was the most qualified and job ready. We will rest easy knowing that the Republican Committee put the safety of Monroe County Citizens above politics. We did not choose a candidate because of their name recognition. We chose a qualified candidate who will not play politics with the job. Please welcome Ryan to the team,” the Monroe County Republicans said on Facebook.

In an interview, Webb noted his background in municipal practice. 

"My practice (with Gori) included the representation of four municipalities. Aside from the most publicized aspect of a state's attorney's job - criminal prosecutions - the state's attorney has a wide range of responsibilities to the county,” Webb told the republic-Times. 

"The practice of municipal law is one that matches up to those responsibilities and I view it as an important foundation to having success in the role of state's attorney.”