Know the Candidates: John Dewane is Challenged by Norm Shinkle in Ingham County Prosecutor Race
Over the next several weeks, ELi will bring you articles highlighting the choices for state- and county-wide elections. We seek to interview each of the major candidates for these offices and share an objective look at their backgrounds and goals for office.
Today, we focus on Ingham County prosecuting attorney. With its administrative offices in the county in Mason, the prosecuting attorney will “review, authorize and prosecute violations of felony and misdemeanor criminal laws of the State of Michigan and county ordinances committed inside the county” according to the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan.
John Dewane
John Dewane calls Williamston his home town and served as deputy prosecuting attorney before being appointed as prosecuting attorney two years ago. When asked what he’s learned since he was named to the top spot, he laughed.
“I’ve been a prosecutor for 23 years,” he said. “I’ve pretty much done everything in this office. What I’ve learned is being administrator is not very easy. Being a boss of approximately 80 staff members — 32 attorneys and probably 30 staff — that’s the biggest challenge that I face right now.”
In recent months, Dewane has spoken publicly about his difficulty in finding qualified prosecutors to hire. He told ELi he’s resorted to being creative, including hiring a prosecutor who actually trained him at the beginning of his career.
“He’s getting ready to retire from another job,” he said, “and suggested maybe coming back as an independent contractor…maybe having around 20 hours a week.”
During the summer, the office had two open spots and interviewed four candidates, two of which had not taken the bar exam yet.
When Dewane took over, the prosecutor’s office stood in disagreement with the sheriff’s office over a decision to limit firearm charges. ELi asked Dewane about progress his office has made in getting illegal guns off county streets.
“I don’t know how much headway has been made getting illegal guns off the street,” he said. “I know that with my changes and policies, we are prosecuting and taking a hardline stance on people carrying concealed weapons illegally. There’s so many guns in our society right now. It’s hard to get them removed but we’re taking the approach that if you choose to carry a gun illegally, we’re gonna hold you responsible.”
Dewane said his relationship with county law enforcement, including the East Lansing Police Department, has contributed to his successes. Within two days of starting his role he met with all the chiefs of police in the county, informing them of his new plans for the office.
As far as his goals for a possible full term, he said his ambitions remain the same.
“I think gun violence in our community is still way too high,” he said. “[Ingham County] has had too many non-fatal shootings, too many violent encounters. So that’s still the number one goal. I also focus on intimate partner domestic violence.”
Dewane said he also wants to support the work of county treatment courts, including programs designated for veterans and sobriety support, which he said supports offenders willing to grow and also reduces court dockets for his understaffed team.
“I’ve done everything in this office,” he said. “I know what my employees are going through. I’m not somebody that sits in an ivory castle; I actually went to District Court the other day and ran a docket because we are so short staffed. I’m going to be working for the citizens of our county.”
Norm Shinkle
Norm Shinkle grew up in Temperance very close to the Ohio border.
“When I was in the [State] Senate [from 1982 until 1990], I told people I was from Toledo, Michigan,” he told ELi in a phone interview. “People knew exactly where I was from.”
He has practiced law since 1979, gaining experience in corporate, criminal, and his current work in tax tribunal. He chaired the Michigan Tax Tribunal for eight years under Governor John Engler, adjudicating disputes on property assessment throughout the state. He was also on the state’s board of canvassers, gaining attention for abstaining from a vote to certify the 2020 presidential election.
Describing politics as a hobby, ELi asked him why he chose to throw his hat in the ring for county prosecutor.
“I wanted to make sure we had somebody running against Dewane,” he said. “He’s never run before; he was appointed…. I was trying to recruit an attorney to run against him and I couldn’t find anybody to step up so I said I’ll just run against him.”
Shinkle said he has nothing against Dewane. He believes the incumbent is doing a better job than his predecessor. Shinkle is concerned about Dewane recognizing “sanctuary” municipal status. Last year, the East Lansing City Council voted to become a sanctuary city, meaning city officials won’t comply with federal immigration authorities.
Asked about his other priorities he held, Shinkle found his way to taxes.
“I think Ingham is a great county, but the problem is. The people here have been bamboozled… convinced that tax increases are good,” he said.
Shinkle said that the county millages paying for mental health services, homeless services and more add up, especially when combined with property taxes.
Shinkle admitted the tax issue wasn’t the purview of the prosecutor, but he felt it was still an issue people should be aware of. He went on to discuss the crime in Lansing, saying the media doesn’t report on it but crime rates in the city have gotten too high.
When asked how he felt he and other Republicans would fare in November, he took an earnest tone.
“Politics are politics and people [in Ingham County] are just used to voting Democrat,” he said. “It’s almost two to one against Republicans, so no, I don’t bet on any Republican winning countywide.
“But if we as a Republican Party can bring Ingham County up from 38% to 43% Republican, even though we all lose, statewide we win. And that’s what politics is about; you just do the best you can.”