Rock Island County State's Attorney candidate John McGehee said he wants to reduce crime through community outreach and tough prosecution of illegal firearm use.

A Quad-Cities attorney for the past 23 years, the Democrat was joined by Rock Island County Sheriff Jeff Boyd at the Moline Township Hall on Wednesday to discuss his initiative of "community prosecution."

"Prosecutors have a responsibility to prosecute swiftly and effectively," Mr. McGehee said. "As state's attorney, I will host town forums and meet with area police chiefs, school officials and public and private-sector leaders and stakeholders."

Mr. McGehee said he wants to collaborate with area police chiefs to reduce the number of illegal guns floating throughout the county and to pursue tough prosecution of illegal firearm use.He said that, while campaigning and knocking on doors, people have "expressed concern about violent crime.

"That's one of the major issues," he said. "A lot of shots have been fired, especially in Rock Island, some in Moline, and in other cities as well. It's such a serious issue."

His Republican challenger, Rock Island County Assistant State's Attorney Jim Wozniak, on Wednesday said the state's attorney's office deals with police on a daily basis.

"We want to reduce crime, but our job is to prosecute," he said.

Mr. Wozniak, who also noted he has been going door-to-door campaigning, said the state's attorney should work with community leaders and county officials to improve economic activity in the county. The more poverty a community has, he said, the more crime it will have.