A contest in the 14th Subcircuit?

The clock is ticking fast now... the doors will soon close at the Illinois State Board of Elections and for the regular judicial filing period and there are, as expected, lots of new filings today, some from candidates you've read about on FWIW, some from candidates not previously mentioned here.

Perhaps the single most newsworthy development is that Beatriz Frausto-Sandoval (pictured at left) has filed to run against Judge Marina E. Ammendola for the Garcia vacancy in the 14th Subcircuit. This sets up a possible primary contest -- in a subcircuit where primary contests are rare as hens' teeth.

There was one vacancy in the 14th Subcircuit in 2016. It was uncontested. There was one vacancy in the 14th Subcircuit in 2012 as well. It, too, was uncontested.

There was one vacancy in the 14th Subcircuit in 2010. Uncontested. There was a 14th Subcircuit vacancy in 2008. Also uncontested. There were two 14th Subcircuit vacancies in 2002... and one candidate apiece for each.

You get the picture.

Of course, there are a number of places where a candidacy might falter between the filing of nominating petitions and the certification of the primary ballot. So we can't promise a contested primary. But there is a possibility, at least.

According to ARDC, Frausto-Sandoval has been licensed in Illinois since 2006. She has an office in the Temple Building, across from the Daley Center, according to Sullivan's, where she practices immigration law. Her LinkedIn profile, from which the accompanying picture is lifted, gives a Bridgeport office address.