Cornelius and Garcia take circuit judge races

Democrats Vincent Fitzgerald Cornelius and David Garcia triumphed in Will County’s two races for circuit judge.

Cornelius defeated Republican Victoria McKay Kennison and Garcia beat out Ben Braun, also a Republican.

Cornelius totaled 123,406 votes to Kennison’s 113,303, according to election results provided by the Will County Clerk’s Office, and Garcia beat Braun by 126,353 to 111,725.

Cornelius, 54, a Naperville resident, has been a trial lawyer for 28 years. Garcia, 63, a Joliet resident, was appointed an associate judge in 2013. He was the first Latino judge in the history of Will County.

Cornelius and Kennison were running to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes. Braun and Garcia were running to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Daniel Rozak.

Both Braun, 59, and Kennison, 49, already were on the bench. Braun, a Frankfort resident, has been an associate judge for the past 12 years. Kennison, a Joliet resident, was an attorney for 15 years before her appointment to associate judge in 2011.

Cornelius put the selection of quality associate judges as a top priority if elected a circuit judge. Garcia said he would make streamlining the family court call a priority.

Once elected, circuit judges run for retention every six years. A judge only needs 60 percent of the vote to be retained.