More recommendations on county judges

There are nearly 100 men and women running for judge this year in Cook County.

Voters in the Cook County Democratic Primary will be asked to choose judges in nine countywide races on February 5. There are also contested vacancies in the 1st, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 12th and 15th Subcircuits. Two vacancies are up in the 5th and 13th Subcircuits and there are three contested races in the 10th Judicial Subcircuit.How can a voter figure out which candidates are worthy of a vote?

Chicago lawyer Jack Leyhane has been collecting information on the judicial primary and posting it on his blog, For What It’s Worth. There you will find links to candidate websites, statements offered by some of the candidates themselves, and posts that ‘organize the data’ for each contest, providing information about all available bar association ratings and endorsements by newspapers and other groups.

Primary elections are particular important in judicial races. No Republican filed for any countywide Circuit Court vacancy. Only in the 4th, 12th, 13th and 15th Subcircuits are there any Republican candidates at all. Except in these four races, the winners of Tuesday’s primaries are virtually guaranteed to take office in December.

In addition to For What It’s Worth, information about Cook County Circuit Court candidates may be found at http://www.illinoisjudges.net/ and http://www.illinoisvotersguide.org/2008/candidates.php.

Both these sites, sponsored by the Illinois Civil Justice League and the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, respectively, provide information about judicial contests elsewhere in the State as well.

Jerald Bennett receives endorsements of neighboring mayors

Palos Hills Mayor Gerald Bennett received endorsements from the following mayors this week ... Bennett, it should be noted, is the Chairman of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, which is a part of the Southwest Conference of Mayors.

Mayors for Bennett List

Larry Hartwig, Addison
Patrick Kitching, Alsip
Arlene Mulder, Arlington Heights
Catherine Melchert, Bartlett
Jeffrey Schielke, Batavia
Donald Peloquin, Blue Island
Roger Claar, Bolingbrook
Donald Maue, Breese
Henry Vicenik, Broadview
Elliot Hartstein, Buffalo Grove
Brad Cole, Carbondale
Joe Cook, Channahon
Thomas Gray, Chatham
Stan Schaeffer, Collinsville
Dwight Welch, Country Club Hills
Aaron Shepley, Crystal Lake
Scott Eisenhauer, Danville
Gary Niebur, Edwardsville
Ed Schock, Elgin
Tom Marcucci, Elmhurst
James Sexton, Evergreen Park
Robert, Walter, Fairbury
Gail Mitchell, Fairview Heights
Saul Beck, Ford Heights
Anthony Calderone, Forest Park
Rodney Craig, Hanover Park
Keith Hunt, Hawthorn Woods
Victor Ritter, Herrin
Don Roberton, Hometown
John Piazza, Lemont
Bill Muller, Lombard
Darryl Lindberg, Loves Park
Tom Murawski, Midlothian
Timothy O'Donnell, Monee
Marilyn Michelini, Montgomery
George Pradel, Naperville
Nicholas B Blaze, Niles
Chris Koos, Normal
Gary Graham, O'Fallon
Daniel Lightner, Oreana
Eugene Marks, Northbrook
Linzey Jones, Olympia Fields
Kyle Hastings, Orland Hills
Dan McLaughlin, Orland Park
Rita Mullins, Palatine
Robert Straz, Palos Heights
John Mahoney, Palos Park
James L Ardis, Peoria
John Spring, Quincy
Richard Reinbold, Richton Park
Zenovia Evans, Riverdale
Irene Brodie, Robbins
Lawrence Morrissey, Rockford
Dale Adams, Rockton
Gayle Smolinski, Roselle
Leonard Ferguson, Salem
B.J Hackler, Saint Joseph
Al Larson, Schaumburg
George Van Dusen, Skokie
David Owen, South Chicago Heights
Timothy Davin, Springfield
Louis Sherman, Steger
Edward Zabrocki, Tinley Park
Sal Saccomanno, Waucunda
Gary Pretzer, Willowbrook
Alan Nowaczyk, Willow Springs

END
Bill Murphy, Woodridge