It is a statement of reality.
There are no Republicans running for countywide judicial office in Cook County. Not for the Supreme Court, not for the Appellate Court, not for any countywide vacancy. Out of all the subcircuit vacancies in Cook County, there are only two in which Republicans have filed and there is a primary contest in only one race.
If you, the voter, wants to have any say in who serves as a judge in this county, you must vote in the Democratic Primary on St. Patrick's Day. Because the winners of those contests will almost certainly be sworn in for full terms on the first Monday in December.
I realize that some people shy away from voting in primaries because they don't want anyone to know whether they are a Republican or a Democrat. Or maybe some people think they aren't Democrats, so they don't want to vote in a Democratic Primary.
If you are one of these, I have news for you: You don't need to "be" a Democrat, whatever that means, to vote in the Democratic Primary.
You don't even have to "be" a Democrat to be the front-runner for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.
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| Photo credit: Scott Eisen/ Getty Images |
Just ask Bernie Sanders.
FWIW readers already know this, of course. But think of your friends and relations who don't. Spread the word: If you want to vote for judge in Cook County, you must vote in the primary election and you must take a Democratic ballot.
Now, then, switching topics slightly -- but not entirely -- I have noticed that some would-be FWIW commenters have become downright vaporish about a person who has consorted with known Republicans, who has actually claimed to "be" a Republican (whatever that means), but who has filed to run for judge as a Democrat in the 10th Subcircuit.
Invasion! Fraud! Subterfuge!
Oh, please.
All this means is that the person in question wants to be a judge. Because there is no way for a resident of the 10th Subcircuit to become a judge unless one runs in the Democratic Primary.
At some point in the future it may be different, but right now -- in this election cycle -- in Cook County -- Republicans are irrelevant. To have any say in the affairs of our commonwealth one must participate in, not only the democratic process (small d), but also the Democratic Party (capitals intended).
With all the nervous upset about John Garrido, I'm almost afraid to mention that there is another person running in the 13th Subcircuit, as a Democrat, who actually ran for judge in the 13th Subcircuit in the 2018 primary as a Republican.
I'll pause now, whilst some of our readers fan themselves and mop their brows.
Feeling better?
Look, the explanation here is equally simple. Until 2018 no Democratic candidate had ever been elected judge in the 13th Subcircuit. In 2018 only Democrats were elected to the bench in that far northwest suburban enclave. The person in question wants to be a judge. She has determined that, at least for this election cycle, even in the northwest suburbs, the only place to go in order to achieve that ambition is the Democratic Primary.
In a one-party state (and, for now, Cook County certainly appears to qualify) everyone who wants to participate in politics must be a Party member.
We're telling voters that they have to take a Democratic ballot in order to have a say in who serves on the Cook County bench. Why are any of us surprised, then, when persons who want to serve on the bench, choose to run in the Democratic Primary?
What’s the big deal. Republicans run as Democrats all the time in Cook County. Especially Irish women running countywide who live in the northwest side and defends torturers like John Burge. Well, if they can stay on the ballot that is.
ReplyDeleteTHIS WOULD REQUIRE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND I SUPPORT THIS. IRONICALLY, THIS WOULD GIVE A RENEWED RELEVANCE TO THE COOK COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S SLATING AND SUBCIRCUIT SLATING. SINCE THE JUDICIAL ELECTION WOULD BE NON-PARTISAN, VOTERS WHO WANT TO VOTE FOR A DEMOCRATIC-INCLINED JUDGE WILL LIKELY TURN TO THE PARTY'S SAMPLE BALLOT TO SEE WHO THEY SHOULD VOTE FOR. RIGHT NOW, A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTER FIGURES ALL THE CANDIDATES ARE DEMOCRATS SO I'LL JUST VOTE FOR THE ONE WITH THE NAME I LIKE.
ReplyDeleteGarrido has not just claimed to be a Republican, he ran as one for Cook County Board President.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about "she" in the 13th but 'he" ran last cycle as a Republican , yet has been a life long Democrat, and now files as a Dem again.. Michael Gerber. He was appointed by Anne Burke, lost his race and his term, and was re-appointed by Burke subject to this election. Maybe the Schaumburg Dems will rise again or maybe not.
ReplyDeleteWhen I ran in the 4th Subcircuit in 1992 I ran a a Democrat because I had run as a Democrat countywide in 1990, and if I had to run for a third (and last) time would have run countywide again as a Democrat. The 4th was drawn to be a Republican subcircuit, although it split when I won and fellow retired Judge Rick Billik won as a Republican. The 4th is now Democratic, as are most subcircuits. So, yes, the reality is that to be elected judge in Cook County, you have to run as a Democrat. I would prefer that judicial candidates' names would appear on all parties' ballots, since the reality is that in Cook County that's when judges are really elected. In my years as a lawyer and judge - mostly in the Criminal Division - I have found that once a judge hits the bench there are no Democratic judges or Republican judges, just judges of varying degrees of competency. (Supporting the opinion of Chief Justice Roberts and not the Pardoner in Chief.) How voters who do not follow FWIW are able to find out about the qualifications of candidates to determine how competent they will be is another topic entirely.
ReplyDeleteJudge Davy, Moose and Squirrel always had respect for you. But your knowledge is dated. The game has changed since when Bill and Hillary were in the White House. Enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day Massacre that Moose and Squirrel have planned for several years. We thanks all Emerald Isle lasses for playing and hope to see you again in 2022. Especially for Appellate Court. Our male circuit court judge client wants as many women in his race as possible. Moose and Squirrel say All Power to the People!
ReplyDeleteMoose and Squirrel
Moose and Squirrel - What knowledge is dated? Do you mean to say the Democratic primary is not the only game in town to get elected judge? That was the point I was trying to make, I’m well aware that the kitchen table campaign I ran would not get me too far today. Good luck against Boris and Natasha. (Now that is dated knowledge.)
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