Pieczonka leads Kaplan in 12th judicial subcircuit

In the race for Cook County's 12th judicial subcircuit, Republican challenger James Pieczonka appeared poised to unseat Democratic incumbent James L. Kaplan late Tuesday night.

With 249 of the 252 precincts reporting, unofficial vote tallies showed Pieczonka pulling in 51 percent of the votes to Kaplan's 49 percent. The 12th judicial subcircuit encompasses parts of Maine, Wheeling, Elk Grove, New Trier and Northfield townships.

During the campaign, Pieczonka supporters claimed that Kaplan resides in Lake County and is therefore ineligible to hold the seat. Kaplan, a Democrat appointed by the Supreme Court in 2010 and again in 2012, acknowledges he and his wife of 39 years own a Lincolnshire home where she lives with one of their adult children. However, for several years, he has resided in a Glenview apartment - a second home he calls "the man cave" - to comply with circuit court residency requirements. He said he spends weekdays at his apartment and returns to the Lincolnshire Friday evening. Kaplan said his lease, bank statements, credit card and utility bills demonstrate he resides in Glenview, and he does not claim a homeowner's exemption on his Lincolnshire property.

Kaplan described his opponent's charges as politically motivated.

Pieczonka claimed Kaplan was "playing musical chairs with appointments" and the Glenview apartment does not satisfy constitutional residency requirements.

A private practice attorney for 30 years, Pieczonka has been involved in real estate development and served for 11 years as an administrative law judge for the Illinois Department of Revenue.