SOUTH BEND — After withdrawing his filing earlier this month, John Maciejczyk is once again the St. Joseph County Republican Party’s candidate for county prosecutor.
During a St. Joseph County Republican Party caucus on Friday, July 31, Maciejczyk was unanimously approved as the party’s candidate for St. Joseph County prosecutor, following his decision to voluntarily withdraw his filing after a previous caucus earlier in the month.
While it is past the deadline to file in St. Joseph County, by law, a political party has 30 days to fill a vacancy left by a candidate withdrawing.
After taking a vote to approve Maciejczyk, he and Republican St. Joseph County sheriff candidate Rod Laureys shared details about their platforms, after which St. Joseph County Republican Party Chair Jackie Horvath invited members of the media to ask questions.
But the press was asked to leave once they’d asked their questions and before party members were invited to ask their questions of the candidates.
If elected prosecutor, Maciejczyk said, he has three main priorities: Build communication between the prosecutor’s office and police; increase training for young prosecutors; and emphasize transparency.
He said he plans to issue a monthly press release and distribute statistics about how the office is doing.
“When I was the chief deputy … our trial conviction rate was about 83%, and now it’s my understanding is that it’s nowhere near that anymore,” Maciejczyk said. “… I want the community to know how we’re doing. And I … can’t remember a time when the prosecutor’s office made those statistics available to the community.”
Laureys said he and Maciejczyk are “on the same page,” adding that they previously worked on cases together when Laureys served in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“There’s been a huge breakdown between the prosecutor’s office and the police department, particularly the city, as far as getting things done — both sides,” he said. “That’s one thing that I’m not going to tolerate. And John and I have a very good relationship.”
When asked what prompted his decision to withdraw and subsequently refile his candidacy, Maciejczyk described running for prosecutor as “a tough decision.”
He said that after talking with his wife and children, he’d originally decided against running, concerned he might lose time with his family. But, Maciejczyk said, after further consideration and discussion, he believes running is the right thing to do.
“I know it looks like I’m going back and forth, which I did, you know, but it’s just because this is going to be a big job,” he said. “And so, eventually, my desire to help the community out kind of won out.”
Email South Bend Tribune staff reporter Rayleigh Deaton at rdeaton@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Maciejczyk rejoins race as GOP prosecutor nominee after withdrawing
Reporting by Rayleigh Deaton, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
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By Rayleigh Deaton, South Bend Tribune | USA TODAY Network
