Three-quarters of voters in the 13th Judicial Circuit say Gene Daugherity and Joe Hettel can keep being judges. Circuit court judges are up for retention every six years in case they aren’t good judges. But what that means is completely up to public opinion. The LaSalle County Republican Party had urged voters to say no to keeping Daugherity and Hettel just because they’re Democrats. It takes 60% yes votes to keep a judge.
WCMY file photo: Judge Joe Hettel swears in new Ottawa Mayor Dan Aussem in May 2019.