[1] After an unsuccessful bid for a Milwaukee County Children's Court judgeship in 1968, McCann resigned from his position as a prosecutor to challenge District Attorney David J. Cannon, a Republican who had been appointed by Governor Warren Knowles to fill a vacancy in the office.
[2] McCann defeated Milwaukee attorney Gerald P. Boyle for the Democratic nomination and unseated Cannon in the fall general election.
[5] In 1984, McCann ran in a special election for Wisconsin's 4th congressional district but was defeated in the Democratic primary by state Senator Jerry Kleczka.
[9] McCann also conducted a reckless homicide prosecution against Chem-Bio Corporation, a medical laboratory which had failed to detect cervical cancer in patients who later died of the disease.
[10] As a special prosecutor, McCann investigated but did not prosecute Winnebago County Coroner Michael Stelter, who was accused of negligence in conducting autopsies and reviewing deaths.