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.
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