Mark Curran
Encyclopedia
Mark C. Curran is the current Sheriff of Lake County, Illinois
.
Curran began his career a state prosecutor in Lake County in 1990, rising to Senior Felony Prosecutor. He then served as a prosecutor with the Illinois Attorney General
from 1999 to 2002. In 2002, Curran went into private practice, concentrating in civil and criminal litigation.
In 2006, Curran won the Democratic Party
primary election
on March 21, 2006, and won the general election
in November 2006, defeating incumbent Gary Del Re. Curran has been outspoken in his call for prison reform for Illinois, including faith based programming in prisons.
, calling his decision a "matter of conscience." Curran stated that the scandals of Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich played a role in his decision to switch parties
and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Spring Hill College
. He graduated from Loyola Academy
in Wilmette, Illinois
. He and his wife Irene have three children.
Lake County, Illinois
Lake County is a county in the northeastern corner of the state of Illinois, on the shore of Lake Michigan. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 703,462, which is an increase of 9.2% from 644,356 in 2000. Its county seat is Waukegan. The county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area...
.
Curran began his career a state prosecutor in Lake County in 1990, rising to Senior Felony Prosecutor. He then served as a prosecutor with the Illinois Attorney General
Illinois Attorney General
The Illinois Attorney General is the highest legal officer of the state of Illinois in the United States. Originally an appointed office, it is now an office filled by election through universal suffrage...
from 1999 to 2002. In 2002, Curran went into private practice, concentrating in civil and criminal litigation.
In 2006, Curran won the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
on March 21, 2006, and won the general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
in November 2006, defeating incumbent Gary Del Re. Curran has been outspoken in his call for prison reform for Illinois, including faith based programming in prisons.
Jail
In August 2008, Curran made national news when he voluntarily spent a week in the Lake County Jail.Change of political party
On December 15, 2008 Curran announced that he was switching from the Democratic to Republican PartyRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, calling his decision a "matter of conscience." Curran stated that the scandals of Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich played a role in his decision to switch parties
Personal life
Curran holds a J.D. Chicago-Kent College of LawChicago-Kent College of Law
Chicago–Kent College of Law, the law school affiliated with Illinois Institute of Technology, is nationally recognized for the scholarship and accomplishments of its faculty and student body. It is the second oldest law school in the state of Illinois. Many of the applications of technology in the...
and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Spring Hill College
Spring Hill College
Spring Hill College is a private, Roman Catholic Jesuit liberal arts college in the United States. It was founded in 1830 on the Gulf Coast in Mobile, Alabama, by Most Rev. Michael Portier, Bishop of Mobile, Alabama...
. He graduated from Loyola Academy
Loyola Academy
Loyola Academy is a private, co-educational college preparatory high school, located in Wilmette, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago. Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, it is one of 47 Jesuit high schools in the United States and is a member of the Jesuit Secondary Education...
in Wilmette, Illinois
Wilmette, Illinois
Wilmette is a village in New Trier Township, Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is located north of Chicago's downtown district and has a population of 27,651. Wilmette is considered a bedroom community in the North Shore district...
. He and his wife Irene have three children.