Vote totals show Stewart ahead of McGlynn in appellate court race

Southeast Missourian

A Southern Illinois judge pushing for more diversity in the Metro East-favored 5th Judicial District of the Illinois Appellate Court appeared to unseat the incumbent judge.

Saline County Judge Bruce Stewart ran on the Democratic ticket against Republican Judge Stephen McGlynn in Tuesday's election for the appellate district, which encompasses Illinois's 37 southernmost counties.

As of deadline, The Associated Press had Stewart winning 157,986 to 142,723 over McGlynn with 53 percent of the vote, or 1,116 of the 1,434 precincts reporting.

During his campaign, Stewart argued that he was most qualified as a result of his 11 years in circuit court, something first-time judge McGlynn did not have.

McGlynn of Belleville, Ill., was appointed to the bench in July 2005.

Stewart's appointment would also provide more geographical diversity, as to date he will be the only elected judge not from the Metro East area.

"I think it looks real good. I'm cautiously optimistic," Stewart said as the numbers came, adding he thinks Southern Illinois seemed to want a appeals judge with more experience outside the Metro East area.