Lake County Court Judge Chris Kennedy will face Kane County Court Judge Susan Clancy Boles for an open seat on the Illinois Appellate Court-Second District in the Nov. 8 general election.
Kennedy, a Libertyville resident, claimed victory in the three-way June 28 Democratic primary for the party’s nomination after officials in the five-county judicial district posted the last set of unofficial results late Tuesday afternoon.
“We clearly won,” Kennedy said Tuesday night. “I’m extremely grateful to everyone who helped as volunteers and everyone who voted for me.”
Leading a close race since the first results were released on primary election night, Kennedy accumulated 40.66% of the more than 93,500 votes cast. Erin Cartwright Weinstein of Gurnee, the Lake Count court clerk, tallied 39.79% and Crystal Lake attorney Mike Cortina had 19.55%.
The district includes all of Lake, McHenry, Kane, Kendall and DeKalb counties. Lake County Clerk Robin O’Connor said the results remain unofficial until she signs the canvass Friday. All county clerks statewide must sign their canvass by July 19.
In another race which remained in doubt until provisional and straggling mail ballots received by Tuesday were counted, state Sen. Melinda Bush, D-Grayslake, claimed victory in the contest for 10th Congressional District state central committeewoman.
Looking ahead to the November election, Kennedy said he plans to follow the same strategy which earned him his primary victory. It will include meeting as many people he can so he is able to communicate his message face to face.
– Original Credit: News-Sun
“I’m going to reach out to voters and explain why I’m the best candidate,” Kennedy said. “More and more people are becoming aware of the importance of the judicial branch of government. I look forward to meeting people as we discuss these principles.”
Though Boles ran unopposed in the Republican primary, she collected more than 99,500 votes. Kennedy said he attributed the GOP edge in primary balloting to a variety of factors, including a strongly contested race for the gubernatorial nomination while Gov. J.B. Pritzker was unopposed for the Democratic nod.
Between the appellate court election and a race for the Second District Supreme Court seat — including the same counties — between Lake County Judge Elizabeth Rochford and former Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran, there will be a lot of voter interest in both elections.
“People are going to realize it’s very important to vote for judges,” Kennedy said.
In the election for 10th District committeewoman, Bush claimed victory over incumbent and former state Rep. Lauren Beth Gash, D-Highland Park, with 50.24% of more than 50,500 votes counted to Gash’s 49.76%.
Bush, who is retiring from the senate when her term expires in early January, said she sees her new role as one where she will have the opportunity to strengthen the Democratic Party in the 10th District and the state. The district includes much of Lake County and parts of Cook and McHenry counties.
– Original Credit: News-Sun
“I’m looking forward to finding real good candidates who want to do a real good job,” Bush said. “That’s how you build a party. I want to help build a bench for the party.”
