About the Candidate
Name: Thomas DeVore
DOB: 1968
Occupation: Attorney
Political Experience: First-time candidate. Has challenged Governor J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot's mandates in court.
Website: tomdevore.com
Twitter: twitter.com/ThomasDeVore76
Facebook: facebook.com/thomasdevoreil
Candidate Statement
The contrast in the Attorney General race this year is clear: Do you want to put a check on power or do you want to allow the machine politicians to continue serving themselves at your expense?
I’m Tom Devore and over the past three years, I’ve seen how great the people of Illinois are… and how corrupt our politicians can be.
As a private practice attorney, I have stood with the parents to give them the voice in their kids’ education - on matters related to school closures and other illegal mandates. I stood with small businesses when Governor Pritzker tried unlawfully to shut them down. I stood with the police officers, the firefighters and the state workers when Mayor (Lori) Lightfoot tried to force them out of their jobs over her illegal mandates. I stood with you as a private practice attorney for the last three years. And now, I am running as Attorney General to stand up for all Illinoisans by putting a check on power and bringing balance back to the executive branch.
No matter what your politics - when I look at our problems, I know you, the people, are the answer. You should not be overwhelmed by a corrupt political machine.
Right now, in Springfield, you have politicians from both parties who do not respect you or the life you are trying to build for yourselves. Too many are looking out for their own interests, at your expense. Too many think they should be able to make all the decisions for you, your kids, and your businesses.
Well, I trust the people of Illinois and not the politicians.
I will work with anyone to improve the lives of the people of Illinois – whether it be a Democrat or a Republican – and I will stand against anyone who abuses their power in government.
I’ve never in the last three years wavered from standing up to the corrupt politicians or the special interests. And as your next Attorney General, I would continue to do the same.
I’m Tom Devore, the ‘People’s Attorney,’ and I’m asking for your vote.
Candidate Q&A
Why are you running?
I am running to bring balance back to state government. The people of Illinois need a check on the power in Springfield to ensure that their rights are not trampled on by powerful politicians and special interests. I will hold politicians accountable to the people of Illinois regardless of party.
What does this office do well, and what needs fixing?
Kwame Raoul has dedicated his time to protecting the political class in Illinois. Like his predecessor, Lisa Madigan, he can’t find a case of public corruption anywhere in government.
He's currently protecting Governor Pritzker in the Thornley work comp case (in which the Governor is directly implicated).
He was a reliable vote for Cullerton, Madigan and the Combine as a State Senator.
What is the most pressing issue facing your constituents and how do you plan on addressing it?
The people of Illinois are hurt by the scams run on them by a corrupt political class. They are hurt by rising crime rates in metro and mid-metro areas across the state. And their constitutional rights have been trampled over by powerful politicians. As a private practice attorney, I took on cases that dealt with the constitutionality of orders coming down from Springfield, I would do the same as Attorney General to protect Illinoisans against abuses of power. On crime, as Attorney General, I would be able to go into counties with prosecutors like Kim Fox, who refuse to prosecute crime, and I would prosecute those criminals myself. It is difficult to progress as a society, if we cannot be assured of our own safety. It is difficult to attract business, if we can't promise to arrest and prosecute theft, violence and organized crime rings. It is difficult to raise healthy kids, uncertain of their own safety on the way to school. And cases, like that of Jenny Thornely, in which public corruption is abundantly clear, I would take the case to court. We can't have two sets of rules: one for politicians and insiders, and another for everyone else. Right now, that is the dynamic. I would end that.
What specific steps would you take to ensure your office is accessible and responsive to your constituents?
As a candidate and as an attorney, it was important to me to get information out publicly as often as possible. I would continue using social media to share appropriate information, conduct town halls in person and digitally, and offer a weekly newsletter and regular emails with information from the Attorney General's office. During the school lawsuits, it was necessary to put in place a volunteer response team to be sure everyone who needed help was properly directed. I would implement something similar to ensure that the attorney general's office is truly serving the people of the state.
