Nick Kantas
Kantas wins bid for 4th Subcircuit vacancy
By Carol McGowan
Nick Kantas came out on top in the Democratic primary for Cook County judge in the 4th Subcircuit.
He won over Amanda Moira Pillsbury in the race to fill the Gavin vacancy. Kantas had 12,652 votes to 10,393 for Pillsbury with 99 percent the vote in (218 of 221 precincts), according to unofficial returns from the Cook County Clerk’s Office.
Turnout was 12 percent with 27,242 votes out of 227,382 registered voters.
Kantas is looking forward to being on the bench and working for the public.
“I’m really honored that the voters would place their trust in me, and I look forward to working hard on behalf of them every day,” he said Wednesday morning.
Kantas has been dedicated to public service and the people of Cook County for the past 17 years as a prosecutor in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.
As a prosecutor, Kantas says he’s in court every day, and sees how parts of the system work well, and parts that need improvement.
“As a judge, I look forward to being positive and treating people fairly. Come November, I will have 18 years of trial experience working with defense attorneys and courtroom staff to make sure that the courtrooms I work in are based on fairness and efficiency, and let people be heard when they come into court.”
Born in Palos Heights and raised in Oak Lawn, he attended public elementary schools, then went on to Marist High School in Chicago’s Mount Greenwood neighborhood.
He furthered his education at Northern Illinois University and Valparaiso University.
When he’s not in the courtroom, Nick wears many hats in the community.
He is a commissioner for the Lyons Township Mental Health Commission, and coordinator for the Western Springs Peer Jury Program. He also has served as a trustee of the Lyons Township School Treasurer’s Office.
Nick, his wife, who is also an attorney, and their two children live in Western Springs.
When asked about what he sees in his future, “I’m looking forward to this new part of my career, and looking forward to continuing my work in public service.”
In the other 4th Subcircuit race, Shawnte Raines-Welch outpolled three other candidates Tuesday night.
Unofficial results with 217 of 221 precincts reporting, Raines-Welch garnered 8,180 votes to 6,370 for Chloe Pedersen, 5,536 for Jerry Barrido and 3,361 for Patrick Campanelli.
Local News
Stagg High Welcomes 3,500 for Marching Band Competition
Spread the loveMarching bands came together last weekend to share their love of music. Stagg High School, 8015 W. 111th St., Palos Hills, welcomed more than 20 marching bands from around the area at its annual March Band Jamboree on September 7. The Jamboree began with the national anthem performed by area middle schoolers from…
McCook Fire Hydrants Get Date With Sandblaster, New Paint Job
Spread the loveMcCook residents will soon see crews sandblasting and repainting fire hydrants around the village Mayor Terrance Carr, after the village board meeting on Tuesday night Sept. 3, confirmed that testing has been completed on the fire hydrants village-wide. “We’re in the final steps. The flow testing was done. Everything turned out good. The…
Obituaries September 12, 2024
Spread the lovePETER DUTKANYCH Peter Dutkanych, 78, of Palos Hills, has passed away. He was the beloved husband of Karen (nee Klotz); loving stepfather of Chris Kawa; loving grandfather of Tiffani and Michael; dearest brother of Carol O’Neal; the late Gene and Rich Dutkanych. He was a longtime member of Teamsters Local 710. Funeral services…
Protesters rip Oak Lawn over lack of accountability in man’s death a year ago
Spread the loveThe Oak Lawn Fall Music Festival received great reviews but the village board also listened to heated comments regarding a local man who was struck and killed by a motorist a year ago. Fadia Muhamad, the mother of Murod Kurdi, who was struck and killed by a passing motorist in 2023 in the…
Joan Crawford and Bette Davis visit the Worth Public Library
Spread the loveThe enmity between Joan Crawford and Bette Davis created one of the most famous celebrity feuds of all time. Why did they hate each other so much? Well, it’s a long story, but to share it was actress, Jillann Gabrielle, who portrayed both roles at the Worth Public Library, 6917 W. 111th St.,…
Football | Libertyville downs Richards for second year in row
Spread the loveLibertyville 48, Richards 15 Libertyville beat Richards in Week 2 for the second straight season, this time 48-15, to drop the Bulldogs to 1-1. Jaiden Henry scored on a 20-yard reception and Myles Mitchell tallied on a 2-yard TD run for Richards. The Bulldogs travel to Eisnehower this week for both teams’ South…
Football | Nazareth’s Logan Malachuk completes nine passes — six of them for TDs — in romp
Spread the loveNazareth 42, Kenwood 15 Nazareth senior quarterback Logan Malachuk threw for 275 yards and six touchdown passes as the Roadrunners (2-0) trounced Kenwood, 42-15, in a non-conference matchup in LaGrange Park. Malachuk, who has been under center the past two seasons as nazareth won back-to-back state championships, did that damage despite completing only…
Football | Flutman and Boersma connect for four scores as Chicago Christian tops Elmwood Park
Spread the loveCaden Boersma returned a punt for a touchdown and caught four scoring passes from Christian Flutman as Chicago Christian defeated Elmwood Park, 49-16, on Sept. 6 in Palos Heights. Kenny Jager had a rushing TD for the Knights (2-0), who were up 49-0 at halftime. Chicago Christian plays at Wheaton Academy this week.
Football | Jake Ritter shines and Marist is great late in win over Brother Rice
Spread the loveIt’s a new era at Marist under first-year head coach Mike Fitzgerald and his staff. But the more things change, the more they stay the same; at least when it comes to the recent history of the program’s annual neighborhood matchup with Brother Rice. RedHawks running back John McAuliffe’s second touchdown of the…
Neighbors
Coroner’s affidavit shows as many as 800 human remains could have been misidentified
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com As many as 800 families across the country who patronized a Carlinville funeral home may never know if the remains on their mantles belong to their loved ones, according to an affidavit signed by Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon. The affidavit was filed in a lawsuit pending against…
Calculated bribe or ‘kiss up’ to Madigan? Corruption trial kicks off for former AT&T boss
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – As the federal corruption trial of former AT&T Illinois president Paul La Schiazza formally kicked off on Wednesday, prosecutors and defense attorneys painted two very different pictures of a political hire the telecom giant made in 2017. La Schiazza is accused of bribing former Illinois House…
Supreme Court hears cases pertaining to detention under the SAFE-T Act
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a pair of cases that test the authority of local courts to hold criminal suspects behind bars while they await trial. The cases come almost one year to the day after the court allowed a new law abolishing…
Supreme Court hears cases pertaining to detention under the SAFE-T Act
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a pair of cases that test the authority of local courts to hold criminal suspects behind bars while they await trial. The cases come almost one year to the day after the court allowed a new law abolishing…
Jury selection begins in trial of former AT&T Illinois boss accused of bribing Madigan
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – Jury selection is set to begin Tuesday in the trial of former AT&T Illinois president Paul La Schiazza, who federal prosecutors allege bribed once-powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in exchange for favorable legislation in Springfield. It’s the last in a series of related trials that…
East St. Louis forum to tackle persistent childhood poverty
By MOLLY PARKER Capitol News Illinois mparker@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois has the potential to eradicate childhood poverty, but it will require a concentrated, sustained effort in partnership with families and disadvantaged communities, says Tasha Green Cruzat, president of Children’s Advocates for Change, a Chicago-based nonprofit focused on childhood wellbeing. This hope drives the focus of the policy…
Federal judge rejects Illinois’ bid to end court oversight of disability programs
By MOLLY PARKER & BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois mparker@capitolnewsillinois.com bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com A federal judge on Friday denied Illinois’ request to end court oversight of its disability services. Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman, with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, agreed with legal advocates who argued that the state still hasn’t met its…
Coroner’s affidavit shows as many as 800 human remains could have been misidentified
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com As many as 800 families across the country who patronized a Carlinville funeral home may never know if the remains on their mantles belong to their loved ones, according to an affidavit signed by Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon. The affidavit was filed in a lawsuit pending against…
State law banning concealed carry on public transit ruled unconstitutional
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com A federal judge in Rockford has declared a state law banning concealed firearms on public transit systems unconstitutional – at least as it applies to four individuals who challenged it in court. But the law remains in effect for everyone else as the parties in the case consider…
Capitol Briefs: Secretary of state enlists high schoolers to encourage organ donation
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – The secretary of state’s office is launching a new program to enlist Illinois high schoolers to promote organ donation. The organ and tissue donation registry, a voluntary database administered by the secretary of state, catalogs peoples’ wishes regarding organ donation after death. On Tuesday, Secretary of…
