He's been a Kane County Board member and a Carpentersville trustee - and now John Noverini is about to become judge.

Noverini, a turncoat Democrat, defeated Republican incumbent Patricia Piper Golden in Tuesday's race for the 16th Judicial Circuit's 2nd Subcircuit bench, capturing 47 percent of the vote to Golden's 43 percent, unofficial results show.

The outcome makes Noverini, an attorney and college professor, the first from his party elected to a Kane County judgeship, he said.

"It's pretty remarkable," Noverini, 50, said Wednesday, attributing victory to campaign volunteers. "I am excited about doing this and I look forward to the challenge and opportunity."

Noverini, who has represented Kane County District 23 for six years, made campaign financing for judges one of the centerpieces of his campaign, questioning the ethics of his opponent for accepting donations from attorneys. He also vowed to push toward the creation of a night court program aimed at improving courtroom efficiency.

Golden, 50, a former prosecutor who has been on the bench since 1996 and was appointed to her current position two years ago, could not reached for comment Wednesday.

The 2nd Subcircuit is in northeastern Kane County.