Fiss wins retention with 75 percent

Voters in St. Clair County will retain Circuit Judge Jan Fiss to another six year term, according to early totals.

With more than half of precincts reporting, Fiss has 75 percent of the "Yes" vote.

Judges running for retention need at least 60 percent.

In two previous retention races in 2000 and 2006, Fiss was retained with 75 percent of the vote.

Fiss did not conduct a particularly active campaign, having raised approximately $6,000.

In his last retention race in 2006, Fiss was sworn into office the day after he was involved in an auto accident with now-retired Judge Patrick Young. The accident occurred in Belleville on their way back from a St. Louis Rams football game.

After refusing a sobriety test, Young was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. He was eventually found guilty and retired in 2010.

Fiss, who stepped down as chief judge following the incident, pled guilty to illegal transportation of alcohol and was sentenced to 60 days of court supervision and fined $500.

The Illinois State Bar Association poll recommended Fiss for retention.