Of the six likely candidates for Madison County circuit judge, only two have raised campaign funds in the first quarter: Republican Circuit Judges Amy Sholar and Christopher Threlkeld, who hold their seats by appointment of the Illinois Supreme Court.
According to documents filed with the State Board of Elections, Sholar's campaign committee raised $26,725 through March 31. Her treasury balance as of March 31 was $48,000.
Sholar's largest donor was Volunteers for Shimkus, which supported campaigns of former Republican congressman John Shimkus. It transferred $4,000 to Sholar's committee, Citizens for Judge Sholar, which is chaired by Shimkus. A former Shimkus staffer Steve Tomaszewski serves as its treasurer.
The Madison County Republican Central Committee transferred $2,500 to Sholar's committee.
Sholar raised $13,000 in itemized contributions; $6,625 in non-itemized contributions and $6,500 in transfers.
Her committee paid $3,500 in legal expenses in the first quarter as she and Judge Threlkeld mounted a constitutional challenge to a controversial law passed by the Illinois General Assembly on Jan. 5 that divides Madison County into three judicial subcircuits.
If the law stands, only voters who live in Subcircuit 1 - the western portion of the county - get to vote this year for three judicial races in Madison County. Historically, judicial elections have been decided by all county voters as judges preside over all its citizens.
An appeal of a Springfield judge's ruling striking down the challenge remains pending.
In the meantime, the candidacy of Sholar's Democrat counterpart, attorney Ebony Huddleston, is in question. On April 6, a three-member county electoral board upheld the position of objector Eric Foster, Republican county board member from Granite City, who argued that Huddleston and judicial candidate Barry Julian (versus Threlkeld) submitted nominating petitions with dates outside the lawful circulation period.
Huddleston and Julian can appeal that decision to the Madison County circuit court, but for now they are off the ballot.
In spite of the electoral board ruling, Huddleston filed a campaign finance report, though without campaign contributions. Her committee, Citizens for Ebony Huddleston, is chaired by Amy Williams and its treasurer is Sheila Goins, wife of Alton Mayor David Goins.
Threlkeld's committee, Citizens for Threlkeld, raised $9,610 in the first quarter, according to the State Board of Elections. His treasury balance as of March 31 was $15,567.
His committee chair is Steve McRae and its treasurer is Jeremy Plank.
Like Sholar, Threlkeld's largest donor was Volunteers for Shimkus, which transferred $4,000 to his committee. The Madison County Republican Central Committee also contributed $2,500 to Threlkeld.
He raised $1,300 in itemized and $1,810 in non-itemized contributions.
Threlkeld also paid $3,500 in legal expenses to law firms challenging the subcircuit law.
Neither candidate seeking the vacancy being created by the upcoming retirement of Chief Judge William Mudge have filed campaign reports with the Illinois State Board of Elections - Associate Judge Ryan Jumper, Democrat, and attorney Tim Berkley, Republican.