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Iris Martinez Leads Democrats Seeking Circuit Clerk Office

Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Candidates Democrats
Richard Boykin; Michael Cabonagi; Iris Martinez; Jacob Meister (images from various sources)

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Illinois State Sen. Iris Martinez was leading Tuesday night in the crowded Democratic primary to replace retiring Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown.

With more than 85 percent of precincts reporting, Martinez had 35% of the vote, followed by Michael Cabonargi, the Board of Review chairman, who had 27%. Trailing them were former Cook County commissioner Richard Boykin, with 25%, and lawyer Jacob Meister, 13%.


Martinez, a veteran Illinois legislator, envisions an organizational overhaul of the circuit court clerk office, which critics say is antiquated. The veteran incumbent, Brown, has been dogged by allegations of cronyism and inefficiency. 

Political analyst Andy Shaw says Martinez's victory in the primary would be an upset of sorts because Carbonargi was the party's selected candidate, and Boykin had his own endorsements to tout.