I haven’t been to the McHenry County Fair yet, but one candidate has been astute enough to send me some photos.
You can see that Sally Wiggins is promoting herself as an "Independent."
Her name is Sally Wiggins and she is running as an Independent for the 22nd Judicial District vacancy. Her Republican Party opponent is Associate Judge Gordon Graham.
Besides the photo of herself at her booth, she sent one with herself and supporters.
From what can be seen in the background, Sally Wiggins is not inside a building. Not as convenient if it rains, but much better visibility. Her supporters red shirts say, "I want an independent judiciary in McHenry County."
I don’t know if female candidates kiss babies, but Wiggins is certainly courting the “Mom Vote,” if this photo her campaign sent is any indication.
Baby animals are not the only kind at the County Fair.
The best button of the 1990’s was one passed out by environmentalists opposed to factory hog farms. It said, “Pigs don’t vote.”
Cows don't vote, but this photo probably spreads good will to humans who do.
I keep trying to find a photo that will show me whether Wiggins is wearing high heels, the way she has in every parade I’ve chronicled.
Sally Wiggins poses with a farmer. Not the farmer is holding her card.
Alas, there’s no photographic evidence.
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And, for all candidates, probably more people will see your picture here than you’ll meet at the fair.
Let’s get a new, good, qualified judge on the bench. Sally is an excellent choice.
It is so good to see an honest and truly credible candidate running not just for a local office but that of an independent judge. If you believe in “grassroots” you can know that Sally is a “homegrown” gal who cares & takes pride in our county, its citizens, and upholding the laws that apply to all us regardless of political affiliation.
I think we need a judge thats going to put those who seek to harm our children behind bars and keep them there Not let them out on Bond. She has a my support.. I don’t know how a judge can let someone like the Big Brother rep hurt children and not consider him a threat to the public.
And what is wrong with Judge Grahem(sp)? Much like most mainstream candidates, he is backed by a “party”, in this case, Republican; could have just as easily been a Democrate. What PROOF is there of his doing anything wrong, or inappropiate? Nothing against Ms. Wiggins, just never heard of her before this campaign.
And for Jeff, EVERYONE is given a bond to post to be released from jail for a CRIME,even illegal immigrants(sometimes they remain until cleared by ICE). Remember the axiom, “Innocent until PROVEN guilty beyond a reasonable doubt”. Judge Grahem, I believe, holds court in Misdemeanor Jury Court, not felony court. Those judges would be Prather and Conden
Sorry, They aren’t when they are considered a threat to the public. So you are saying that he didn’t do anything to those children. Prove it!
He shouldn’t be involved with kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry but I am a victum of Domestic abuse when I was a kid and will not allow people to harm children. They should be behind bars till the truth is known. They have put innocent people behind bars for years at a time and can’t keep sex offenders there. We have politicians in jail for tax evasion but Sex offenders get out. Sorry that doesn’t fly with me.
Big brothers and Big Sisters need to be investigated for this. Its their duty to protect children not set them up with Sex offenders. NO reason will make this better.
Something is Seriously flawed when a known sex offender is allowed access to children. And we wonder why children are dieing and disappearing.
If you feel a known sex offender should be allowed to be around kids you are seriously flawed.
Judges have the duty to protect our children. IF they don’t, I do not want them on the bench protecting my children. And judges are assigned to different courts as needed. I want someone to protect them. Lets see I haven’t heard anything about any judges except Judge Wiggens. Why doesn’t Judge Grahem. let us know where he stands on the issues. haven’t seen anything on it. I haven’t seen any info about him. So I guess he doesn’t feel he needs to say anything. So we will see at election time. People should vote for who they have info about and if they don’t not vote for anyone.
I would assume, as do many of the posts on these sites (remember what yourt Momma told you-when you assume, you make an “ass out of You and Me”), that Judge Grahem would likely be standing on his record of a current sitting misdemeanor judge; and since there has been NO complaints against him or his current rulings, I’d say that is a pretty good stance. Does ANYONE have ANYTHING to report that he may have done wrong, or incorrectly? I didn’t think so-if they did, they’d be remiss by not reporting it to the ARDC. As I said before, nothing against Sally Wiggins, except that I do not believe she has any Criminal Court work, and nothing ever done in McHenry County, which doesn’t exclude her from the bench. As far as I know (which ain’t very far), currently in McHenry County, Judges are assigned to a courtroom call, and normally do not rotate very often-this includes civil, criminal and felony.
About sex offenders and domestic abuse offenders, Jeff, you and I couldn’t agree more. HOWEVER, unless and until you get the State to change the constitution, OR this country changes into a Socialistic State, the LAWS of the land give anyone the right to a bond. Granted, I’d make them a lot higher, but still, a bond is really nothing more than a guarentee that the offender will show up in court. Even someone like John Wayne Gacey had a bond, Sirhan Sirhan, and so would have Lee Harvey Oswaald (had not Jack Ruby saved the country a trial)
Well, Since I don’t know the Judge and I don’t know what his stance is on the issues. Assumption is not something someone should go on. Everyone needs to plead there case. No one has a free ride I have to prove myself everyday at work in order to keep my job so should our judges. I haven’t seen anything on any judge so as far as I’m concerned they all have to prove themselves. I don’t rubber stamp for anyone. I have talked to Judge Wiggens and she seems to me to have alot of my same views on issues. They aren’t on the supreme Court and don’t get a free ride. Its our responsibility, as citizens we should question all our Representitives.
I would suggest talking to LOCAL lawyers who may have appeard before Judge Graham (got the spelling right this time) and ask them their opinion of Judge Graham and his decisions. I would think that you would get a better idea of how he rules from them, than from a sitting judge. Since Sally Wiggins is NOT a judge, it would of course be to her advantage to spout off on what she thinks he is doing wrong, or what she would do, as she percives it, differently. I see where Judge Graham was at the county fair and was there for you to ask him questions and get your answers. By the way, I believe that both are running for a circuit judge position, a step up from Judge Graham’s position as an associate judge. Even if Judge Graham looses the election, he will not loose his job (I don’t think). He will still be an associate Judge. It would be just that Sally Wiggins now gets to move into a position that she has not had any initial training for by being an associate judge in the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court, and, since she has NO admitted criminal court work, she’d be seated, probably, on the civil court side of the building, i.e. small claims, divorce, etc., until she can prove herself and her knowledge of criminal law. I believe that currently, several of the sitting judges have been in the criminal section of McHenry County courts work for quite some time, many having been former State’s Attorneys, Public Defenders, and criminal defense attorneys. I have asked Sally Wiggins what Criminal Law work she has done anywhere in the past, especially in McHenry County, several times, and it seemed to me that she was “dancing”, citing civil work with Police stuff, and other Chicago area court work, but NEVER about what I’d asked about. Although I do not back her, I wish her luck. I have been in Judge Graham’s Courtroom, and have always found him to be fair and above board.
your post is full of speculations, maybes, probablies. Illinois does not require judicial candidates to be an associate judge prior to being a circuit court judge, it requires that one have a law degree which Ms. Wiggins does have. Attorneys in Illinois can practice in any county and in any court so it is appropriate that Ms. Wiggins is just as qualified if not more so than her opponent. Ms. Wiggins has trial experience in Federal Courts in numerous states as well as local courts in numerous counties throughout Illinois. That gives her vastly more experience than just hearing misdemeanor cases in McHenry County.