Three celebrate wins in judicial primaries

A sitting associate judge, a former local mayor and a well-known Democrat won their races for judge.

In the Plainfield-area subcircuit 1, Will County Judge Robert Livas won a hard-fought Republican primary with 45.60 percent of the votes cast, or 3,842 votes.

His opponents, Katherine L. Maloney, had 40.83 percent of the vote, or 3,440 votes, and Phillip Spiwak earned 13.57 percent of the vote, or 1,143 votes.

Livas spent the primary season walking his precincts. As he celebrated with volunteers and friends Tuesday night, he seemed very happy to have won, and thanked everyone who worked on his campaign.

"And I'd also like to congratulate my opponents for running a fine race," Livas said.

In subcircuit 5, Ray Rossi, the former mayor of Frankfort, won the Republican primary. He had 49.20 percent of the vote or, 6,539 votes. Opponents Judy DeVriendt won 32.36 percent of the vote, or 4,301 votes. And Art Smigielski had 18.43 percent, or 2,450 votes. Subcircuit 5 is a geographic area including Homer, New Lenox and Frankfort townships and Mokena, Homer Glen, Frankfort, New Lenox.

There was one Democratic primary for circuit judge. Gary S. Mueller, of New Lenox, won with 58.79 percent of the vote, or 15,058 votes. Opponent Keith S. Van Duyne, of Wilmington, earned 41.21 percent, or 10,556 votes.