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Slams AG Kaul for Slashing Criminal Prosecution Positions at DOJ
By 26% District Attorneys Come Out Strong for Toney

[Fond du Lac, WI…] Eric Toney, Fond du Lac County District Attorney and President-Elect of the Wisconsin District Attorney’s Association (WDAA), today announced he is running for the office of Wisconsin Attorney General.

Toney has successfully handled a wide array of cases ranging from cold case and intentional homicide, sexual assault, domestic violence, violent crime, gun crime, financial crimes, racketeering cases and more.  First elected in 2012, District Attorney Toney is serving in his third term as Fond du Lac District Attorney.

Toney said current Attorney General Josh Kaul is balancing the DOJ budget at the expense of community safety and is too interested in playing politics to serve as the state’s ‘Top Cop’. Kaul has made it more difficult for law enforcement and district attorneys to receive assistance from DOJ prosecutors, and has reduced the number of frontline prosecutors in the Criminal Litigation Unit at DOJ by approximately 26 percent.

“As a front-line prosecutor, it’s critical we have an attorney general who has personal experience fighting crime in Wisconsin and who will support our law enforcement.  As the next attorney general, I’ll make the safety and security of Wisconsin families my top priority, ”said District Attorney Toney. “My dad served in law enforcement for over 30 years, and I have personally witnessed the type of sacrifices they make to serve and protect our communities. Josh Kaul is playing politics community safety.  On day one I’ll restore these critical prosecutor positions, which are needed to support local law enforcement and our district attorneys.”

Toney graduated from Fond du Lac High School and earned his undergraduate degree from St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI, with a double major in History and Political Science. He then graduated from Law School at Hamline University in 2009.

Toney is the current President-Elect of the WDAA.  He’s served as Chairman of the Legislative Committee and Communications Committee, and he’s a former Secretary/Treasurer of the Association.  Toney is already endorsed by 26 District Attorneys across Wisconsin. A full list can be found at EricToney.com.

“Josh Kaul is supporting his liberal allies and their efforts in Washington to forgive a trillion dollars of student loans, while at the same time gutting criminal prosecutor positions at DOJ.  This is an absurd misallocation of resources and a slap in the face to the men and women fighting crime in Wisconsin,” said District Attorney Toney.

Biography

An experienced prosecutor, Toney has appeared in court throughout the Wisconsin including Fond du Lac, Marinette, Brown, Manitowoc, Outagamie, Calumet, Winnebago, Sheboygan, Dodge, Washington, Richland, Juneau, Milwaukee, and Racine Counties.  He is also a member of the Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association.

Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney is currently serving his third term having first been elected in 2012 and assuming office in January of 2013.  He also serves as President-Elect of the Wisconsin District Attorneys’ Association.

Eric has successfully personally handled a wide array of cases ranging from cold case homicide, intentional homicide, infant homicide, drunk driving and drugged driving homicides, sexual assault, domestic violence, drunk and drugged driving, drug overdose deaths, wire fraud, violent crime, gun crime, misdemeanor, felony, financial crimes, and racketeering cases.  An experienced prosecutor, Eric has appeared in court throughout the Wisconsin beyond Fond du Lac County including Marinette, Brown, Manitowoc, Outagamie, Calumet, Winnebago, Sheboygan, Dodge, Washington, Richland, Juneau, Milwaukee, and Racine Counties.

During his time as District Attorney, Eric reorganized the office to allow for dedicated full-time prosecution positions to specifically handle juvenile cases, domestic violence and sexual assault cases.  In addition, he has transformed the district attorney’s office to a paperless office to function efficiently during the pandemic, and he helped lead a successful effort to bring a drug court to Fond du Lac County. Eric recognized we cannot arrest our way out of the drug epidemic our state has been experiencing with the rise in opioids overdoses and methamphetamine use. He also serves on the Healthy 20/20 committee and subcommittee on alcohol use and abuse.

Born at St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac, Eric grew up in a household dedicated to public service as his father worked as a law enforcement officer for over 30 years before retiring in 2013. Eric’s mother, Tammy, worked as a bank teller and then in the health care industry, including at a small business his grandfather started. Upon graduation from Fond du Lac High School, Eric earned his undergraduate degree from St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, with a double major in History and Political Science. He then graduated from Law School at Hamline University where he focused on criminal law and received a certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Hamline’s Dispute Resolution Institute. During his third year as a law student, Eric interned for the Minnesota Senate Republican caucus and worked at a sporting goods store, which he later managed while studying for the bar exam.

During each of his summers as a law student, Eric returned home to Fond du Lac to intern in the District Attorney’s Office where he was inspired to spend his career in criminal law. In 2010, prior to beginning his legal career, Eric worked on a Wisconsin Republican Congressional campaign to help unseat a democrat congressman. He then began his legal career as an attorney at O’Rourke Law Office in Fond du Lac, where he focused on criminal law but also handled juvenile matters, bankruptcies, and mental health cases.

Eric volunteers in the community as a judge and trainer for Teen Court. He is also a board member of the Fond du Lac Running Club and ASTOP (sexual assault survivor advocacy non-profit), and is a former executive board member of the Fond du Lac County Republican Party. Eric is also a member of the Fond du Lac County and Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Associations. Throughout his life, Eric has been an avid competitor. He began running in middle school, served as Captain of his high school and college track and cross country teams. He enjoys spending time with his girlfriend Kim, their dogs Patton and Dale, along with rooting for the Packers and Badgers, attending sporting events, reading, spending time with his family and friends, and running. Eric has completed seven full marathons.

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