Familiar faces to former Peoria judge to run for his Circuit Court seat next year

PEORIA, Ill. – There will be a contested race for a seat on the bench in a central Illinois circuit court next year.

It will be for a spot formerly held by Judge John Vespa in the 10th Circuit Court, who retired July 31st, 2024.

The 10th Circuit covers Peoria, Tazewell, Marshall, Stark, and Putnam Counties.

Judge Timothy Cusack, who was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to fill the vacancy until next December, is running for a full-term as a Republican.

John Vespa’s nephew and current Peoria City Councilman, Mike Vespa, is running for the seat as a Democrat.  In a statement, Mike Vespa says his vision for the Circuit Court is “to ensure equal justice under the law.”

Cusack and Vespa were the only two candidates to file to run.