Hayes ahead in race for the countywide Ward vacancy

There were three sitting judges competing for votes in the race for the countywide Ward vacancy, Judge Alfred W. Swanson, Jr., who was appointed to this vacancy by the Illinois Supreme Court and slated by the Cook County Democratic Party; Judge Peter J. Vilkelis, who was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the countywide O'Brien, Jr. vacancy but was passed over at slating time; and Associate Judge Joan Marie Kubalanza.

All three jurists will apparently finish behind Assistant Public Defender Elizabeth Mary Hayes.

With 95.61% of the City vote counted and 97% of the suburban vote in, Hayes leads the crowded field with 96,186 votes.

With these numbers, she seems to be the apparent winner over Swanson, with 79,964 votes. Vilkelis has 44,728 votes and Kubalanza 30,906.