Levander "Van" Smith, Jr. leads in the race for the Larsen vacancy

The Illinois Supreme Court appointed Levander "Van" Smith, Jr. to the countywide Larsen vacancy. The Cook County Democratic Party slated him for that vacancy.

But Smith gave up the vacancy -- though not the slating -- to accept appointment as an associate judge a few months back.

Now it appears that he will be elected to fill the vacancy he stepped away from.

Smith has a comfortable lead in both the City and suburban returns reported so far over Suzanne Therese McEneely and Megan Kathleen Mulay.