Morelli, Wojtecki join race for 16th Circuit judge seats

Two men well known in the local legal community have joined the race for 16th Circuit judge.

Leonard Wojtecki and Fred Morelli are seeking separate seats in the judicial circuit, which serves Kane, Kendall and DeKalb counties.

Wojtecki is an associate judge in Sycamore. Associate judges are appointed to four-year terms, and do not participate in voting on issues in the circuit, including electing a chief judge, local criminal code rules and civil court procedures.

Wojtecki, 62, of unincorporated Geneva, said Monday he decided to run for a six-year term as circuit judge, in part because he looks forward to getting involved in those issues.

"We're your tie-breakers," said Wojtecki, who has not run for office previously. "We're the people who are above the fray. It's an honor to be a judge."

Wojtecki joins a crowded field of candidates who have announced an intention to run in the Republican primary for the Kane County subcircuit seat. Geneva attorney D.J. Tegeler, Associate Judge Bob Janes and former Kane County State's Attorney David Akemann are running in the Republican primaries for the new seat. Batavia attorney Thomas Rice, who previously announced he was running for a circuitwide seat, last week he now will be seeking only the Kane subcircuit post.

Elgin resident John Dalton has announced he will run in the Democratic primary.

Although the candidates will be selected by Kane County voters, the winner could be assigned to serve anywhere in the circuit.

Morelli also has announced he will run for a circuit judicial seat, although that seat will be elected by voters in all three counties. Current Kane County Judge Kevin Busch also is running in the Republican primary. Even if Busch lost the general election, he would stay on as an associate judge -- something Morelli has been playing up when talking to voters.

"If I win this election, you still get Kevin," Morelli said. "A vote for me is a vote for both."

Morelli, 68, has been a lawyer since graduating from Notre Dame in 1967. He has worked as a public defender, a judge, then for the last 27 years as a defense lawyer, mainly on traffic and felony cases.

In 2008, Morelli was the Republican nominee for a judicial seat in an Aurora subcircuit, but lost the general election to Democrat Jim Murphy.

The primary election will be Feb. 2, 2010, followed by the November general election. Filing for the judicial seats does not open until the end of October.

More information on Morelli is available at fredmorelliforcircuitjudge.com. More information on Wojtecki's campaign is available at www.judgew.com.