Three candidates have applied to become McLean County's top prosecutor.
The vacancy was created when Don Knapp resigned following his appointment as a circuit judge in the 11th Judicial Circuit. The Illinois Supreme Court appointed him to the post in August after he defeated Associate Judge Amy McFarlandin the Republican primary in June.
Two of the applicants are internal candidates.
Erika Reynolds, of Heyworth, currently heads the state's attorney's crimes against children division and has served on Knapp’s leadership team, where she assists in personnel matters, according to her resume. Reynolds has been with the McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office since 2015 and worked previously in state’s attorney’s offices in Lee and Woodford counties.
Aaron Hornsby, of Bloomington, is an assistant state's attorney in McLean County. He reviews police reports for potential criminal charges. According to his resume, Hornsby has served in the state’s attorney’s office since 1994. He also has been a felony trial prosecutor and a juvenile delinquency in the office.
Erik Gibson, of Eureka, has been a prosecutor in the Woodford County State's Attorney's Office since 2018. Gibson said he consistently handles a large volume of cases as one of only two assistant state’s attorneys in that office, according to his resume. Previously, Gibson was a prosecutor in Knox County.
Each candidate is a Republican. Knapp’s replacement is required to belong to the same party.
The McLean County Board Executive Committee is scheduled to interview the candidates during its Monday meeting at 4 p.m. County board chair John McIntyre will submit a nomination for the full county board to consider at its Sept. 15 meeting.
The appointment would be for just over two years.
