Dalton to run for Elgin judge seat
Elgin attorney John Dalton, who unsuccessfully ran for 16th Circuit judge last November, is taking another shot at the bench.
The 49-year-old Democrat recently announced he is running for the new subcircuit judge seat in Elgin that is up for election to a six-year term in November 2012.
The Illinois Supreme Court last month appointed former Elgin City Councilman and Republican John Walters to the post. Walters handles bond call and traffic court at the Elgin branch.
Dalton hopes to build upon the name recognition and campaigning he did for the first judge race, which he lost to Republican and former Kane County State’s Attorney David Akemann, and Dalton’s successful run for Elgin Community College Trustee this past spring.
“The work I did on both campaigns ... I get to build on that momentum,” said Dalton, who believes the subcircuit consisting of Elgin and Dundee Townships is a more favorable voting footprint than the entire county, which has strong Republican areas.
Dalton is not sure if he will be allowed to keep both the judge seat and his ECC position if elected 13 months from now, but wants to if he can do a good job at both.
“The people of Kane County yearn for judges that follow the law, treat every single person with dignity and respect, and put politics aside. If elected, that’s the kind of judge I’d be,” he said.