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Tom receives  endorsement from the West Frankfort Daily American Newspaper.

DA endorses Tedeschi for Judge
 

Wednesday, January 9, 2008 12:27 PM CST

The best thing that can happen to the electorate is when they are presented with several good candidates to choose from. Such is the case in the primary race to fill the vacancy created when Loren P. Lewis, Judge of the Circuit Court of the Second Judicial Circuit, announced he will not seek retention. In effect, the opening will be filled in the Primary voting February 5, since there are no Republicans on the primary ballot to oppose the choice made by the Democrats.

The Daily American recommends Thomas J. Tedeschi for the judgeship.

Worthy opponents in the race for Resident Circuit Judge in Franklin County include current Associate Judge Robert W. Lewis, of Benton; and Michael A. Rowland, of Christopher.

Robert W. Lewis, a distinguished jurist, and a cousin of the retiring judge, Loren P. Lewis, was appointed as an associate and will retain that post regardless of how the primary vote comes out in February. That is also a compelling reason to vote for Tedeschi, because it would then give Franklin County two voices on the bench within the Circuit as opposed to only one, if Lewis wins.

However, this newspaper's endorsement of Tedeschi, 40, goes much deeper and is based on the merit of his vast legal career. The former West Frankfort policeman and Franklin County deputy has lived in Franklin County his entire life. He is the son of the late John and Gayla Tedeschi, and his grandfather, John Tedeschi, was a member of the UMWA and worked in the coalmines his entire life.

“Tom” graduated from Frankfort Community High School in 1985 and is an alumnus of Southern Illinois University School of Law.

His background has eminently prepared him for the bench, as he has learned the law from the ground up by dealing with lawbreakers beginning as a beat cop. He now works as an assistant Franklin County State's Attorney handling cases under Tom Dinn. He was also an investigator for State's Attorney Terry Green.

His public service came naturally to him. His father was elected to the Franklin County Board and his mother was elected Frankfort Township Clerk. He himself served as Treasurer for the Frankfort Area Young Democrats and served as a vice chairman of the County organization until 2004.

Tedeschi said that throughout his career of public service he has worked to protect the community and represent those who had no one else to stand up for their rights. He said, if elected, he would continue in this goal.

We are inclined to agree with him and feel that Tedeschi's career in public service has prepared him to progress to the inevitable next level, to serve the Second Judicial Circuit as a judge.

Local attorney is seeking Franklin County Judgeship

By Bob Ellis, Staff Writer
Monday, October 15, 2007 11:48 AM CDT

From an early age it was obvious that he could meet all challenges and achieve the top honors in whatever he set out to do, when he became an Eagle Scout.

Tom Tedeschi, Assistant State’s Attorney of Franklin County, has decided to offer his strong background in all phases of the law and public service, by announcing his candidacy for the Democratic nomination of Resident Circuit Judge of Franklin County.

Resident Circuit Court Judge Loren P. Lewis recently announced he will not seek retention, thus the vacancy will be on the February 5, 2008 ballot. Tedeschi, age 39, is a lifelong resident of Franklin County and lives in rural West Frankfort with his wife, Lori Ann, and children: Dominick, 12, Sesley Ann, 4, Ensley Joeh, 3, and Docker Elias, 8 months.

Mrs. Tedeschi will be supportive because of experience in law in her own right. She worked as a Criminal Intelligence Analyst for the Illinois State Police and was also a police officer for Rend Lake College. She has since graduated to full-time housewife and mother.

As an Assistant States Attorney for State’s Attorney Tom Dinn, Tedeschi has received a well-rounded in-court experience by serving in the criminal, traffic and juvenile areas of the law.

Further solidifying his qualifications to serve on the bench, as an attorney he has tried numerous jury cases while gaining a clear insight of all court proceedings.

Prior to serving as Assistant State’s Attorney, Tedeschi was employed as an Intensive Probation Officer, and Investigator for former State’s Attorney Terry Green.

The candidate acquired ground-level experience and first-hand knowledge of Franklin County law by serving as a police officer for the cities of West Frankfort, Zeigler, Christopher, and Sesser. He also served as a Deputy Sheriff in Franklin County for Sheriff Bill Wilson. “This body of work and experience gives me an exceptional understanding of every corner of Franklin County which would serve me well as judge,” he said.

Tedeschi was born in Franklin County and graduated from Frankfort Community High School, Class of 1985; John A. Logan College, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale School of Law. He also graduated from the University of Illinois Police Training Institute in Champaign, Illinois where he received the prestigious Erwin Warren Award (top police training candidate) and Academic Achievement Award. As Deputy Sheriff in Franklin County, Tedeschi was named the Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. Tedeschi is the son of the late John and Gayla Tedeschi of rural West Frankfort. He has a brother, Dr. Anthony Tedeschi, formerly of West Frankfort.

Tedeschi relates that he became interested in public service at the age of 9, when his father was elected as a Democrat to the Franklin County Board for District 3. His mother was elected as the Frankfort Township Clerk, also as a Democrat. She was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers while employed as a telephone operator for many years at GTE.

Tedeschi has served as the Treasurer for the West Frankfort Area Young Democrat Club as well as an elected Democrat Precinct Committeeman in Frankfort 1 from 1998 to 2004. He was also elected 3rd Vice-Chairman of the Franklin County Democrat Party and served in that capacity until 2004.

Tedeschi was active as a member of the Fraternal Order of Police and the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades Glazier’s and Glassworkers Local 1340 where he completed the Apprenticeship program and served as a Journeyman glazier, along with his father.

The candidate has a first-hand proud family grasp on the rich history and heritage of Franklin County.

His grandfather, John Tedeschi, was a member of the UMWA and worked in the coal mines his entire life, until his retirement as a mine inspector. His grandparents, Gale and Doris Mabry, were prominent and active in the community and owned and operated Mabry Paint and Glass Company in West Frankfort.

For Tedeschi, serving as a judge would take him to the next level of public service, which he said his entire career has geared him for.

He stated: “Throughout my career of public service I have elected to protect the community and represent those who had no one else to stand up for their rights.

If elected Resident Circuit Judge, I will continue to work hard to serve the citizens of Franklin County with the values instilled in me throughout my life. As Resident Circuit Judge I would apply my extensive life work experience and knowledge of the law to the job.”

Tedeschi attends St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Benton, where he served on the Parish Council. His extensive abilities as an attorney were recognized when he became a president (past) of the Franklin County Bar Association.

His scouting experience took him to the top of that honorable pursuit and played an important role in his life. An Eagle Scout, a member of the Order of the Arrow, he also served as Scoutmaster for Troop 48 of West Frankfort during his 25 years of service to the Boy Scouts of America.

Tedeschi is a member of the Knights of Columbus Council # 1111 and former coordinator and boy’s baseball coach in the West Frankfort Park District Little League program.

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