BY ART BUKOWSKI
Editor's note: Thirteenth in a series of stories on the people, places and events that made news in northern Michigan in 2008. To read previously published newsmaker articles, see record-eagle.com/newsmakers.
BEULAH -- John B. Daugherty aims to turn things around.
Daugherty will take over Jan. 1 for embattled three-term Benzie County Prosecutor Anthony Cicchelli, who dropped his re-election bid before the August primary.
Daugherty, a Beulah-based Republican who defeated Democratic challenger Michael Smith in the general election, hopes to regain respect for an office marred by ethical problems and low public confidence.
"I want to look toward the future and make things a bit more positive for Benzie County and its citizens," Daugherty said. "I think we need to move on and focus on what we can do to improve things."
Cicchelli, who didn't return calls for comment, was investigated this year by the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission after a March incident in which he pushed a magistrate to dismiss a speeding ticket issued to his stepson. He also drew criticism for reducing or dismissing a series of drunken driving charges for a Frankfort man who once played on his softball team.
An attorney discipline panel is ironing out details of a plea agreement to a conflict of interest charge in the stepson complaint, said Traverse City attorney Barbara Budros, who sits on the panel. Cicchelli likely will be given an official reprimand for the action, Budros said, a move that doesn't carry any specific punishment.
Cicchelli, first elected in 1996, has been in trouble with the grievance commission before. In 2005, he pleaded no contest to a complaint that he made "negligently inaccurate statements" to a magistrate and state police during an investigation of a 2002 incident in which he fixed a friend's ticket.
Benzie law enforcement officials welcome Cicchelli's departure, said Rory Heckman, who'll become Benzie County's sheriff on Jan. 1. The attention drawn to Cicchelli's actions damaged the county's reputation, he said, and drew the ire of police and other public officials.
"Whenever criticism is rendered, especially when it appears to be justified, it's troubling," Heckman said. "It paints all law enforcement in a very bad light."
Voters elevated Heckman from undersheriff to the sheriff's post in the November election. He and other officers are excited to work with Daugherty, he said.
"We're all looking forward to the future," he said. "There's optimism that we're going to have a prosecutor that listens to us."
Cicchelli at times declined to pursue criminal charges requested by police, or issued less severe charges than those requested. Daugherty said he plans to establish a strong connection with local police and grant fewer plea deals than his predecessor.
