Two candidates file to run for Lorain County prosecutor in 2024

Incumbent Lorain County Prosecutor J.D. Tomlinson is being challenged by attorney Tony Cillo, who filed petitions to run for the prosecutor’s seat in the 2024.

Tomlinson, a Democrat, was elected Lorain County prosecutor in 2020.

Prior to be elected, Tomlinson was in the private practice of law, primarily handling criminal matters and counseling clients from every walk of life, according to a news release issued Dec. 19.

“After the people of Lorain County chose a new path for the Prosecutor’s Office four years ago, I hit the ground running,” Tomlinson stated. “We’ve worked closely with law enforcement partners and used every tool at our disposal to incarcerate violent offenders.

“And, we’ve adopted innovative, first-of-its-kind strategies to address crime, including the recent awarding of a Smart Prosecutor grant from the Department of Justice to effectively prosecute those who prey on child victims. Our new approach has produced real, tangible results that make Lorain County safer.

“There has been a 12 percent increase in the successful prosecution of high-level felonies, and a 26 perfect increase in prosecutions of sexual offenses. With fewer predators on the streets, we’ve experienced double-digit drops in violent crime across our largest jurisdictions.

“The voters of Lorain County will have a clear choice between our campaign’s future-looking message of effective, evidence-based prosecution and his campaign’s message, ripped right out of yesterday, that offers the same worn-out ideas that have already failed our communities.”

Cillo, a Republican, also announced his intentions Dec. 19 in a news release to run for Lorain County prosecutor.

An attorney of 30 years, he boasts 29 years of prosecutorial experience, including 27 years with the Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office, according to the release.

Cillo is a life-long Avon Lake resident and a graduate of Bowling Green State University and Case Western Reserve School of Law.

He was employed by the Prosecutor’s Office for 27 years before resigning his position earlier this year, the release stated.

During his tenure, Cillo served in a variety of roles including courtroom prosecutor, lead trial counsel, chief of the Criminal Division and chief of Major Felonies.

Cillo has tried hundreds of cases including more than 50 trials involving murder, sexual assaults, public corruption and complex financial crimes, 13 of which were death penalty cases, the release stated.

Currently, Cillo is associate director of the Lorain County Drug Task Force.

“I am the more qualified, experienced and principled candidate,” he stated. “I ask the people of Lorain County for the opportunity to restore integrity to the Prosecutor’s Office and to allow me to serve as their Lorain County prosecutor.”