Donna Dant has announced her candidacy for reelection as McLean County Attorney, a role she has held since 2016. First appointed by then-Judge Executive Kelly Thurman following a resignation in the office, Dant went on to secure the Democratic nomination and won her first election later that year.
“I wanted to do the job. I wanted to serve,” Dant said. “I’ve been practicing law for 40 years and thought I had something to offer the county.”
Dant emphasized the values of fairness, hard work, and respect as the foundation of her work, which includes prosecuting misdemeanors, assisting with felony cases at the district court level, drafting search warrants, and supporting families navigating complex legal matters such as disability proceedings and Casey’s Law petitions.
“I love my job. I love my community. I love the people I work with,” she said. “And I want to do it a little while longer — I still have my health and my mind most of the time.”
A graduate of Chase Law School in 1985, Dant earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Kentucky. She practiced law privately for years, including time with Judge John D. Miller in the Court of Appeals and with attorney Billy Quisenberry. She opened her own office in 1995, specializing in real estate and criminal defense, and said that background still informs her work advising fiscal court and handling property-related issues.
In her role as county attorney, Dant said she is accessible and community-minded. She said she returns phone calls daily and makes herself available to constituents — her cell phone number is even listed in her church bulletin.
“There’s very little political ideology that goes into this job,” she said. “I enforce policy that’s made by others. I think our community has always looked past the party.”
Dant, a registered Democrat, said the position demands compassion and sound judgment — especially when working with families facing issues related to guardianship, child support, or substance use disorders. She said she was the first attorney to process a Casey’s Law petition in McLean County, a legal tool that allows families to petition for court-ordered treatment for a loved one suffering from addiction.
When asked how she approaches difficult or divisive decisions, Dant said she tries to focus simply on what’s right.
“You look at all the facts, and then you make a judgment — even if it’s not in your interest,” she said. “What is the right thing to do?”
Dant, 66, lives in McLean County with her husband Richard Devins and has two adult children. Originally from Daviess County, she has strong family roots in McLean County — her father was born in Cleopatra.
