The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Jim Drozdz, talks of his background and his views on conducting business as Attorney for the people of Hancock County
"It would be good to be back home," said Jim Drozdz as he talked about his plans for entering the race for the Hancock County State's Attorney.
In 1984, Jim and wife Barb (Goodin), a Hancock County girl made their first home next door to the Southern school in Stronghurst in neighboring Henderson County. Both were involved in their careers -she in the health field working at Burlington Medical Center, he in law, an Illinois State Trooper.
After a very active role in the state police and in Henderson County politics, they moved from Stronghurst after he had been assigned to the Illinois Dept. of Governmental Affairs in Springfield, down the hall from the Director of State Police.
Now he is running for Hancock County State's Attorney because he feels the people are ready for a change and his presence on the ballot would provide voters with an option.
Jim possesses a high degree of credibility with members of the criminal justice community.:he has helped write the law, enforce the law, teach the law; and prosecute the law.
He has earned a bachelor's and a master's degree from Western Illinois University, and a juris doctorate (law degree) from the Southern Illinois University School of Law (1992).
Currently, at 43, Jim is a doctoral candidate (Ph.D.) in higher education administration at The University of Iowa anticipating completion of his degree requirements by this May 2004.
"My attachment to west-central Illinois began in 1978 when I enrolled as an undergraduate student at Western Illinois University. My wife is from the Plymouth area and still has family there. The possibility of becoming the Hancock County State's Attorney is simply a tremendous opportunity to continue my criminal justice career, and for my wife and I to return home."
As far as his legal experience, he is a member in good standing of the Illinois Bar (since 1992), was sworn in before the United States Supreme Court (1999), and says he has prosecuted cases in Williamson, McDonough, Henderson, and Christian Counties.
"I served as Henderson County's first-ever Assistant State's Attorney. In Christian County, I was cross-designated as an Assistant Attorney's General and helped prosecute the first nurse ever charged with gross neglect of a long-term care resident.
Jim has over 20 years of experience working in the criminal justice system.
"I joined the Illinois State Police in 1983 and have enjoyed a variety of as