By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

A large crowd gathered on the courthouse lawn Thursday morning in Pontiac for an announcement the Ford County State’s Attorney is making his bid for the same position in Livingston County.

Randy Yedinak, former First Assistant State’s Attorney for both Tom Brown and Seth Uphoff before filling the vacancy in Ford County, spoke to the crowd and said it was a decision made after much deliberation.

Yedinak said there are many issues facing the county and he will work to make this situation better through a better relationship with law enforcement, court systems and the State’s Attorney’s office.

“What’s stopped us from meeting these challenges, unfortunately, in this county, is a failure of leadership; a smallness of politics on behalf of those in charge,” Yedinak said.

Currently, Yedinak is the only person who has announced his candidacy for the position.