Golden leads Akemann by narrow margin in judge race

Patricia Piper Golden posted a narrow victory Tuesday in the Republican primary for the new judicial subcircuit seat in Elgin.

Golden, a 16th Judicial Circuit judge who presides over felony cases in Kane County's judicial center in St. Charles, received 2,474 votes in the 71 precincts, according to unofficial election results.

Challenger Dave Akemann, 56, a former two-term Kane County state's attorney, received 2,402 votes, the results showed.

"We'll be planning a lot for the fall," Golden said, crediting her win to those who worked on her campaign and generosity of her supporters.

Tuesday's election marked Kane County's first judicial subcircuit race since Illinois lawmakers in 2005 directed the 16th Judicial Circuit to divide into five subcircuits, with additions in Elgin and Aurora.

The 2nd Subcircuit covers Elgin, East and West Dundee, Carpentersville, Sleepy Hollow and a slice of South Elgin.

The GOP winner faces attorney John Noverini, 49, a Kane County Board member and former Carpentersville trustee in November.

Noverini, a former Republican, was the sole Democrat on the ticket and predicted the general election would be competitive.

"The way the subcircuit is divided up, it's pretty much leveled the playing field," Noverini said. "I'm going for Democratic votes and I still have a Republican following from my days as a Republican."

The 16th Judicial Circuit includes Kane, Kendall and DeKalb counties.

The creation of subcircuits has been billed as a vehicle to boost the number of minorities on the bench.

With an increase in minorities in Aurora and Elgin it is important for the judiciary to reflect the communities it serves, said Chief Judge Don Hudson.

"It isn't going to cure a specific problem unless you have people interested in the position," Hudson said.

The other judicial race Tuesday was for the 1st Subcircuit, which covers parts of Aurora, North Aurora and Montgomery.