Electoral Board resolves objections against several more judicial candidates

At its meeting Monday afternoon, the Cook County Officers Electoral Board voted to overrule objections made to the nominating petitions of Shay Tyrone Allen. Allen is a candidate for the Washington, II vacancy in the 5th Subcircuit. His opponents are Judge Robert Harris, who was recently appointed to that position by the Illinois Supreme Court, and Mary Alice Melchor, who previously survived a challenge to her nominating petitions.

In other actions concerning judicial candidates taken Monday afternoon, the Electoral Board allowed objections to be withdrawn as to 6th Subcircuit candidates Edward J. Underhill (Cooke vacancy) and Sean Patrick Kelly (Chevere vacancy).

Underhill is now cleared to challenge Judge Charles "Charlie" Beach, who was recently appointed to the Cooke vacancy by the Illinois Supreme Court. A challenge to the petitions of a third candidate, Andrea Michelle Webber, remains pending.

Kelly's opponents in the race for the Chevere vacancy are David C. Herrera and Judge Kent Delgado.

The Electoral Board also approved motions to withdraw objections to the candidacies of Bradley R. Trowbridge (countywide McGinnis vacancy), Gwendolyn D. Anderson (5th Subcircuit, Banks vacancy), and Arthur Wesley Willis (2nd Subcircuit, Valarie Turner vacancy).

In the race for the Valarie Turner vacancy, only former Judge Devlin Schoop and now Willis are guaranteed to appear on the ballot. Objections remain pending as to the candidacies of both Nyshana Kali Sumner and 21st Ward Ald. Howard B. Brookins, Jr. It appears as if the Electoral Board will resolve objections as to these candidates at its meeting tomorrow, February 1. (Meanwhile, FWIW acknowledges receipt of increasingly confident predictions about the fates of these two candidates from anonymous sources. Yes, I'm deliberately holding these back. We'll know soon enough if you're right -- and I'll be pleased to acknowledge it if you are, OK?)