In the Northeast Kingdom, final results of two races for State’s Attorney are still trickling in. One incumbent appears to have lost his job, but another is widening his lead.
In Essex County, former state senator and current State’s Attorney Vincent Illuzzi is leading Julianne Woolard, a public defender for juvenile offenders.
During the campaign Woolard criticized Illuzzi for being too quick to prosecute first-time or juvenile offenders who might turn away from crime if diverted to alternative justice programs, like drug courts.
Illuzzi responded that he had the experience needed to make those tough decisions. The most recent unofficial results from the Secretary of State’s Office show Illuzzi well ahead of his challenger.
Woolard concedes she has lost this round but says she may mount a write-in campaign in November.
In contrast, in Orleans County challenger Jennifer Barrett appears to have defeated the incumbent, Alan Franklin.
In a heated campaign, Barrett said Franklin prosecuted too few cases, and promised she would bring more criminals to justice.
But to get a chance to do that, she will have to defeat Independent Ben Luna and Democrat James Lillicrap, the current Deputy Attorney for Orleans County, in the Fall.
