Coleman, Steele capture appellate seats

In the primary race for 1st District seats on the Illinois Appellate Court, Sharon Johnson Coleman and John O. Steele appeared to be victorious Tuesday.

With 90 percent of the precincts reported, Coleman bested two other Democrats, receiving more than 319,000 votes, in the race for the seat left open by the promotion of Anne Burke to the state Supreme Court.

Coleman, a 12-year circuit court judge from Chicago, had about 43 percent of the vote, while William O'Neal, a circuit court judge who has run unsuccessfully for the appellate court before, collected 30 percent and Alan Greiman, an appointed appellate court judge from Evanston, had 26 percent.

Meanwhile, Steele came out on top of two other Democrats, with more than 365,000 votes with 77 percent of the precincts counted, in the race to replace Calvin Campbell.

Steele, 61, a circuit court judge from Chicago, appeared to easily win his race with 51 percent of the vote. His nearest competitor was Richard F. Walsh of Skokie, a circuit court judge, with 28 percent. Frank Edward Gardner, an attorney from River Forest, had 21 percent.

Coleman, 47, said in her Daily Herald questionnaire that she's handled more than 200 jury trials on civil matters since becoming a judge. Prior to her time on the bench, she served for years as an assistant state's attorney and assistant U.S. attorney and said her experience as a judge, her time in public service and her experience being a mom have prepared her to serve with fairness.

Steele joined the circuit court bench eight years ago after serving nearly a decade as an alderman in Chicago. He said he's overseen several hundred bench trials on civil matters and also handled civil cases as a private attorney. He is a former president of the Illinois Judges Association.