John Baricevic, chief judge for Illinois’ 20th Judicial Circuit, has been a fixture in St. Clair County politics for decades. He previously served as state’s attorney and as county board chairman, a position in which he once, famously, referred to KTVI TV reporter Elliot Davis (an African American) as “Rufus” during an on-camera exchange.
And like many powerful political personalities, Baricevic has a son, C.J. Baricevic, who has decided to follow his father’s path. A Belleville lawyer, C.J. has thrown his hat into the political arena as a candidate for Illinois’ 12th U.S. House District seat. He’s running to unseat GOP incumbent U.S. Representative Mike Bost, a freshman congressman.
Apparently C.J. Baricevic has also acquired his father’s knack for controversy in the form of a complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission regarding questionable contribution patterns by low-level employees of the law firm of Keefe, Keefe & Unsell.
The complaint, filed by the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT), essentially alleges that low-level employees (secretaries, receptionists and legal assistants), who can least afford to donate the maximum of $2,700, all did so on the same day, back in March, to Baricevic’s campaign, inferring that office staff were used as “straw men” to make donations in someone else’s name. Doing so would be a violation of federal election law.
In fact, C.J. Baricevic has received the vast majority of his campaign funding (about $250,000) from lawyers who regularly appear in a court system controlled by his father, which would appear to be a conflict of interest.
However, C.J. Baricevic denies that his dad’s status has had any bearing on such generosity to his campaign. Judge Baricevic has been dismissive of any allegations that his status has created any undue pressure on lawyers to donate to his son’s campaign.
That would be like JFK denying that his powerful and wealthy father had any influence in his presidential victory or George W. Bush denying that his father’s previous presidency and connections had no role in his path to the White House.
It’s absurd and would be the first time that a politician didn’t use their influence and power to further their children’s or family’s political aspirations, especially in St. Clair County, the capital of “poli-tricks” in Southern Illinois.
John Baricevic’s stint as chief judge has been mired in controversy. It was during his tenure that St. Clair County Associate Judge Joseph Christ died of a cocaine overdose at the hunting lodge of his buddy St. Clair County Judge Mike Cook, who later served two years in federal prison for heroin- and weapons-related charges.
I expect politicians to lie, obfuscate facts and insult our intelligence, and the Baricevic name has become synonymous with those who have drank and eaten from the St. Clair County political trough for their entire career.
Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com; Twitter@JamesTIngram.
