Callis files statement of candidacy for Congress; no timetable set to fill her vacancy

Former Madison County Chief Judge Ann Callis has filed her statement of candidacy with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) in the 2014 race for the 13^th Congressional District.

Records show that Callis hand-delivered her statement to FEC on Tuesday, the same day her campaign committee, "Citizens for Callis," submitted its statement of organization.

Both filings show they were received Tuesday afternoon and prepared by the FEC on Wednesday, although neither could be found on the commission’s website until after that.

While it was not immediately clear Friday how many, if any, donations Callis has picked up in her recently-announced bid, the FEC doesn’t require Congressional candidates to register until he or she or someone acting on their behalf receives donations or makes expenditures in excess of $5,000.

The former chief judge filed her statement of candidacy the day after she announced her intention to run for the 13^th Congressional District seat currently held by Republican Rodney Davis, who took office earlier this year.

Callis made her announcement Monday in an interview with a central Illinois news station. She stepped down from the bench last Friday after serving as the Third Judicial Circuit’s chief judge since 2006 and a member of the state's judiciary since 1995.

In her statement of candidacy, Callis lists her address as in the 500 block of Chapman Street in Edwardsville. Her campaign committee and its treasurer, Jennifer May, listed the same address in the statement of organization "Citizens for Callis" filed this week.

Callis said in Monday’s interview with WICS-TV that she doesn’t currently reside in the 13^th District, but leased an apartment and will be living in Edwardsville by June.

It is unclear whether the Chapman Street address is the same apartment Callis was referring to in the interview, but there is no residency requirement for Congressional candidates except that they live in the state they seek to represent.

Although the race for the 13^th District is more than a year out, it looks like it could shape up to be a costly and competitive battle.

In the 2014 election cycle, Democrats will need to win 17 seats currently held by Republicans in order to take control of the House.

This, according to several political websites including The Hill and Politico, has led the Democratic National Congressional Committee (DNCC) to create a new “Jumpstart” program, which will provide early financial and strategic help to eight of its “top-tier” candidates.

Callis was named as one of those candidates, according to reports published Thursday.

While Circuit Judge Dave Hylla has taken for Callis as chief judge, her departure has created a vacancy on the Third Judicial Circuit's bench.

Joe Tybor, spokesman for the Illinois Supreme Court, said Friday that “right now, there isn’t really any timetable to fill” the vacancy that Callis’ departure has created.

“The process won’t begin ticking until there is a request made to fill it from the chief judge,” Tybor said.

Once that happens, Tybor said, Justice Lloyd Karmeier will decide on what procedures to use to recommend an appointment for the vacancy to his colleagues on the high court.