Tom Gibbons announces he won’t seek re-election as Madison County state’s attorney
Tom Gibbons, Madison County’s state’s attorney, has announced he will not seek re-election in 2020.
The announcement was made Friday on Gibbon’s Facebook page where he said First Assistant State’s Attorney Crystal Uhe will be running to replace him.
“As First Assistant State’s Attorney, Crystal has proven she is an outstanding attorney, law enforcement leader and a true champion for our community,” he wrote.
Gibbons would not comment beyond the his social media announcement, other than to confirm his decision and that he expects to share future plans he’s “very excited to announce” Monday.
Uhe also made her announcement on Facebook, calling herself the most qualified candidate for the job.
“I have successfully prosecuted everything from traffic cases to murder cases,” she wrote. “I started out in the office 15 years ago as a law school intern and have worked my way up through the office to the position I hold now.”
Uhe is a lifelong resident of Madison County and has been with the state’s attorney’s office since 2007. She was named the chief of the Criminal Division of the office in 2015 and most recently first assistant to Gibbons.
“I am running because I absolutely love my job and am proud of the work my office does, I am proud of the people I get the honor to work with every day and I am proud of the safe community my law enforcement family has created,” she said.
Gibbons was first appointed as state’s attorney in Madison County by then-Chairman Alan Dunstan in 2010 after former State’s Attorney William Mudge was elected circuit judge. He was elected to a full four-year term in 2012.
In his brief statement, he did not say why he had chosen not to seek re-election.
Uhe will face off against Tom Haine, the Republican candidate for State’s Attorney, in 2020.
This story was originally published November 29, 2019 at 3:54 PM.