A Republican files for judge in Cook County!

Maureen Masterson Pulia, an Illinois Workers Compensation Commission Arbitrator, filed late this morning for the countywide McCarthy vacancy as a Republican.

Pulia ran as a Republican for the Shultz vacancy in the 4th Judicial Subcircuit in 2008, winning in the primary but losing in November to the Democratic nominee, Pat Rogers. Pulia has also served as the Village Clerk and as a trustee of the Village of Westchester.

Pulia's filing is the first -- and so far the only -- filing by a Republican judicial candidate in Cook County (countywide or subcircuit) for the 2010 primary. Given that the special filing period for the McCarthy vacancy closes this afternoon, the odds are she will remain the only Republican.