March 4 fundraiser for countywide candidate Steven Q. McKenzie

But, Jack, you may say -- isn't McKenzie unopposed in his bid for the countywide Burke vacancy?

And you would be right, of course: McKenzie is unopposed. But that does not mean he has no financial obligations.

McKenzie was slated last summer by the Cook County Democratic Party as its first alternate, 'pre-slated' you might say, for any vacancy that occurred after the slatemakers met and (if we're being technical here, and we are) before the close of the special judicial filing period. The retirement of Judge Kathleen M. Burke on August 31 met these criteria, and McKenzie was on his way.

Good news for McKenzie: He got slated. Better news for McKenzie: No one else filed to run against him. But nothing in this life is perfect: McKenzie has to pay the same assessment all the other slated judicial candidates have to pay to the Cook County Democratic Party... I don't know the exact figure for this election cycle... but it's north of $40,000.

Hence the need for fundraising. Even for an unopposed candidate.

And style points to the McKenzie campaign for having a seasonal theme for their event. Tickets for the fundraiser, which will be held at the Billy Goat at 1535 W. Madison, on Wednesday, March 4, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., are $100 each, but St. Patrick's Day-themed sponsorships are available ($200 - Celtic, $250 - Emerald, $500 - Lucky Clover, $1000 - Golden Harp, $2500 - Clover Path, or $5000 - Leprechaun). Further details are on the event flyer, reproduced above.