County Updates

This post covers some recent County government updates and news on upcoming judicial vacancies and appointment applications, a local bipartisan project to reform Champaign County government, the annual Point-in-Time homeless survey, and a reminder of warning siren testing this week.

First, there was a press release out of the Supreme Court of Illinois about local judicial vacancies and the application process for appointing judges to them:

Justice Rita B. Garman of the Supreme Court of Illinois has begun an application process for two vacancies in the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

One vacancy will be created by the retirement of Judge Jeffrey B. Ford on March 25, 2020. Judge Ford was elected as a Resident Circuit Judge in 2006. A second vacancy will be created for the position of Resident Circuit Judge when Judge Heidi Ladd retires on July 1, 2020. Judge Ladd was elected as a Resident Circuit Judge in 2004.

Under the Illinois Constitution, judicial vacancies are filled by Supreme Court appointment. The application process will lead to the final Court approval. Applicants will undergo an evaluation and screening process.

Notice of the vacancies have been posted in the courthouses throughout the Circuit. The application form and instructions may be obtained by visiting the Illinois Supreme Court’s website at www.illinoiscourts.gov and following the instructions in the latest news scroller announcing the Sixth Judicial Circuit vacancy.

Deadline for submission of an application is Tuesday, February 18, 2020. 

More details at the full press release here. There was additional information about the process in the News-Gazette coverage this morning:

Garman has assembled a panel of citizens to help screen the applicants. The two appointees will serve until the first Monday in December 2022.

“We will attempt to identify persons who will be capable and committed to serving the people in this important position,” Garman said when asked if she plans to appoint only people who intend to run for election in November 2022.

That article available here in the eEdition (subscription). Interviews with Judge Ford and Ladd were highlighted in a recent Cheat Sheet post here. For upcoming judicial races in Champaign County, check out our Judicial races page and an upcoming forums with local judicial and other candidates starting tomorrow.


Former school board member and perennial local conservative candidate John Bambenek has joined Democratic County Board member Dr. Charles Young as part of an announced reform project for Champaign County government on their website here. Bambenek recently called for a series of reforms at the December County Board meeting during public participation (video here). County Board member young has been a regular public critic of the Democratic County Executive Darlene Kloeppel and regularly notes his opposition to politics as usual and desire for an overhaul of the current County government structure.


The annual Point-in-Time homeless survey and count will be happening tomorrow in Champaign County. From Smile Politely this week:

 To take stock of where Champaign County stands vis-à-vis homelessness, this year’s Point-in-Time count of individuals and families experiencing homelessness will take place on Thursday, January 30th from 5:30 to 8 p.m. This annual survey is mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and helps determine federal funding allocations for programs assisting homeless individuals and households. It’s organized locally by the Champaign County Continuum of Service Providers to the Homeless (CSPH). If you are interested in volunteering to help ensure success of the 2020 Point-in-Time survey or to otherwise join efforts to end homelessness in Champaign county feel free to contact CSPH coordinator Thomas Bates at 217-328-3313 or tbates@ccrpc.org.

More at the full article here. Additional information from the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission here.


A quick reminder that the County's emergency siren system will be tested this week if you hear warning sirens being tested outside of the usual 10am on the first Tuesday of the Month and get concerned. More at the Champaign County EMA website here. More recent coverage and details at the News-Gazette from earlier this week here.