April 30, 2006

Hon. Vicki Wright Discussion

Judge Wright recently filed her candidacy petitions in Springfield and provides this account.
Tales from the front of the line

Standing in line to file petitions in Springfield was an experience in democracy. As we waited in line, I thought about how our dedicated volunteers stood in the night beginning their shift at 1:00 a.m. The youngest, Ben, is only 16 and cannot vote. I looked down the line and saw more young faces than old. I felt confident our youth will be ready to lead a nation. They only need direction from those with wrinkles and grey hair as we pass the baton.

I stood there from 4:00 a.m. engaging in both silence and spirited debates. We stood with candidates from the top of the ballot to the bottom, all in the same line and all on a level turf for the moment

I stood next to John Laesch, a young impressive candidate for Congress. He will surprise Dennis Hastert when he sends him home. The men in line called him “Brother John” because that is the way he makes you feel about him. We discussed the war, Congress, the President, the Governor, the future, and we shared with complete strangers our hopes and dreams to make a difference.

I shared my definition of “CRAP-athy” (rhymes with apathy) “Crapathy” develops when the mud slinging by both sides causes the voters to stay away from the polls because they do not care to vote for either candidate.

We learned that the cold and the snow made all of our toes numb regardless of whether we were Democrats or Republicans.

As I waited for the doors to open, I thought about the wealth each person held in their hands, bound at the top with string, and clips, and staples. The confidence of hundreds or thousands of citizens who took the time to shake our hands and sign our petitions, sending us one step closer to realizing our dream to speak from our hearts, offer our reputations, and stand up when others are to afraid to try to make a difference.

I observed that I was the first candidate in my race to walk through the door to file my petitions fighting the dark, the cold, and much fatigue. I was proud of the symbolism. I saw an old soldier, Don Johnston, there because I am sure he enjoyed the optimism in the air like I did.

A woman ahead of me slipped and nearly fell on an icy step after filing her petitions. A gentleman still in line, reached out and caught her, helped her, and kept her from falling. Funny, I thought, neither asked the other’s party affiliation. Both caught in the momentone needing help and the other helping out of a sense of common good. Democracy at its finest.

I came home, after a long day on the campaign trail, and lit a candle and prayed for Peace and for Tookie Williams who was preparing to depart our earth.

Good luck to all the Democratic candidates, including Tom O’Neal and Lance Peterson. Let’s make them proud to come to the polling booth and cast a ballot in both March and November.


From Judge Wright's campaign website:

Judge Wright brings nearly 15 years of judicial experience to this race. On a daily basis for over two decades, she has appeared as a trial attorney or presided as a trial judge in our courtrooms. She has dedicated herself to service to
the public in the counties of the Third Appellate District since graduating from Loyola Law School in 1982.

Judge Wright has served the citizens of Rock Island, Whiteside, Henry and Mercer counties since January of 1991 as an Associate Circuit Court Judge. Typically,
Judge Wright presides approximately six months in Rock Island County and six months in Whiteside County each year. As needed, the Court Administrator rotates Judge
Wright into Henry county and Mercer County.

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11 Comments:

At 11/14/2005 7:48 AM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

Where's you read that Bill? Just curious. ;-)

 
At 11/14/2005 11:25 AM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

Thanks for that Bill. It must have slipped my attention.

Are you gonna run in '08?

 
At 11/14/2005 10:37 PM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

Young Dem, care to dig up the link to the article you cited from the Dispatch for our esteemed coleague Dissenter?

I'd like to see it too. Just post it here in comments.

 
At 11/15/2005 1:43 PM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

Oooops. Sorry about that. I beg your forgiveness.

 
At 11/16/2005 7:25 AM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

At last, and thanks to a helpful reader, I've managed to locate what I believe to be the short piece referenced by our illustrious former president, billy clinton, above.

It was published Sept, 8 2005 and was written by Kurt Allemeier.

The URL is:
http://qconline.com/qcnews/archives/qco/sections.cgi?prcss=display&id=256444

I quote the entire piece here:

"A circuit court judge and former Grundy County state's attorney has announced his candidacy for a seat being vacated in the Third District Appellate Court.

Lance Peterson, of Morris, who was Grundy County state's attorney until his appointment to the bench in 2001, made his announcement during a four-city swing last week.

He has served in private practice and has experience in both the criminal and civil courts, according to a press release. He also has worked for the Illinois Supreme Court and appellate court.

He is running for the seat that will be vacated with the retirement of appellate court Judge Kent Slater. Judge Peterson has the support of state Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, and state Rep. Pat Verschoore, D-Milan.

The Third District Appellate Court includes Bureau, Fulton, Grundy, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Iroquois, Kankakee, Knox, LaSalle, Marshall, McDonough, Mercer, Peoria, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, Whiteside and Will counties.

 
At 11/28/2005 6:45 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Judge Wright is a great candidate. From the area, smart, tough, I met her last year, and I wish her well.
Judge Wright, go get em...
You have the support of a lot of Mercer County Democrats

 
At 12/14/2005 11:08 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm sure this isn't going to be read for a while, since there hasn't been much comment recently in this thread, but I have to object to a characterization in the post by "swoosh" above.

To imply that Sen. Jacobs and Judge Peterson were somehow callous to the fallout from Katrina is inappropriate, and is a cheap shot. The reality for anyone who is involved in politics, or any field involving significant travelling, is that events sometimes must go on, despite outside, often terrible, circumstances. There are only so many days on a calendar, and given the size of the 3rd Appellate District, I imagine it is not easy to coordinate.

Further, I doubt that the public was deprived of coverage of Katrina, I know I followed it closely, and it would be detrimental to the public if they were eprived the opportunity to get the information on the endorsements.

Again, just a call for civility.

 
At 2/13/2006 2:45 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I recently spotted Wright for Judge yard signs in the Quad Cities. Good to see.

 
At 2/27/2006 8:22 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nice to see Miss Vickie prayed for Tookie Williams. Give me a break. No matter what your thoughts are on the death penalty, (I am against it for reasons different than most), As an architect of one of the largest criminal enterprises on the west coast and a convicted multiple murderer, Tookie was an excellent example of capital punishment correctly applied. Of course, he did write a childrens book that sold 75 copies, therefore he should not be put to deat for his crimes. This doesn't surprise me though, there is no telling who Vicki Wright will take a shine to in her courtroom and that person will exit her courtroom victorious no matter what the facts show. Of course, she didn't get the nickname "Miss Vicki The Hanging Judge" for nothing either. She is tough on crime, if you are a college kid speeding on the interstate. Now if you are already a convicted criminal you may not fare so bad. I cannot believe she has the gall to run on a "law and order" platform. Unbelievable.

 
At 9/26/2006 10:12 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Vicki Wright is apparently denying that she made the above post in which she says she "lit a candle and prayed" for mass-murdering Tookie Williams.

So, did she write that or not?

 
At 9/27/2006 1:12 AM, Blogger The Inside Dope said...

I've not heard Wright denying this, but don't know really why she would need to.

Saying a prayer for anyone who is about to die is simply a decent act of faith, no matter who it is.

After all, didn't judges always say "God rest his soul" after sentencing someone to be hanged?

 

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