Donna Kelly has been hired by McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi to replace Tom Carroll as head of the Civil Division of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Kelly has worked previously as lead prosecutor of the Office’s Special Prosecution Unit.

Her experience also includes service in the Appellate Defender’s Office, the Kane. County Public Defender’s Office.

In addition, Kelly has civil litigation experience. She has worked as an associate for the law firm of Garry and Marek in Crystal Lake and, most recently, as an attorney with Donahue and Walsh, also of Crystal Lake.

Kelly ran a strong race for the Republican nomination for Appellate Court Justice in 2010. She ran first in McHenry County, receiving 11,757 to Mary Schostok’s 10,205.

Kelly ran such a low-key campaign that I didn’t figure out she was a candidate until I started seeing a few yard signs in Crystal Lake right before the election.

Despite having the local GOP Establishment supporting Schostok, who was serving as an appointed Appellate Court Justice, Kelly delivered an election surprise locally.

With McHenry Count State’s Attorney Bianchi under attack by enemies within the Republican Party and his second term being up next year, it is not beyond imagination that Kelly could be the standard bearer for the Bianchi faction should the State’s Attorney decide to r
Ketir