PEKIN, Ill. – The Tazewell County State’s Attorney is trying again to run for a higher public office.
Stu Umholtz is running for a seat on the bench in the local 10th Judicial Circuit, looking to replace retiring judge Paul Gilfillan.
“I think what makes a good judge is, first, obviously, you have to be honest, have the ability to be fair, and one important attribute that people overlook is you need to be a good listener,” said Umholtz.
Umholtz tells WMBD’s “The Greg and Dan Show” he admits that he has been awfully critical of judges over the years, and now his friends joke that they’ll get to be as critical of him if elected.
Umholtz is a Republican, but says he hopes you won’t really know he’s a Republican from the bench.
“I think that judges have to have the willingness and the ability to stay in their lane, so to speak, and do their jobs, and leave the politics to others,” said Umholtz.
Umholtz says prosecutors and judges are in a better position to respond to criminal activity sometimes than lawmakers are, because lawmakers tend to be reactionary.
Umholtz has tried unsuccessfully in the past to become Illinois Attorney General.
