Ann Callis

Ann Callis is a former chief judge of Illinois's Third Judicial Circuit.[2] A member of the Democratic Party, she was the Democratic candidate to represent Illinois's 13th congressional district in the 2014 federal elections.

Ann Callis
Chief Judge of the Illinois Third Judicial Circuit Court
In office
2006 (2006)–2013 (2013)
Succeeded byDavid Hylla
Personal details
Born (1964-08-28) August 28, 1964
Granite City, Illinois, US
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses
  • Robert Rongey (divorced)[1]
  • Jim Halloran
ResidenceEdwardsville, Illinois
Alma materSt. Louis University (BA, JD)
ProfessionJudge, lawyer

Early life and education

Callis received both her bachelor's degreemagna cum laude and her law degree from St. Louis University. Callis is a native of Granite City, Illinois and is the daughter of deceased attorney and Democratic Party activist Lance Callis.[3]

Judicial career

Callis began her legal career as a prosecutor in the state's attorney offices of Madison County and St. Clair County.[4] Callis was sworn in as an associate judge to Illinois's Third Judicial Circuit in 1995. At the time of her selection for the court, she was the youngest of 21 candidates. In the same year, she was given the "lowest rating for legal ability among 152 judges in Illinois outside of Chicago" by an Illinois State Bar Association poll.[5] Callis noted that she had not received any complaints about her performance, and the low rating reflected the fact that she had been on the bench only a few months and most lawyers had not appeared before her.[5] According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, prior to Callis' appointment there were "months of reports she had the job locked up because of her influential father" and she "was dogged early in her career by allegations that she got to the bench because of her influential father."[3][6] She was named a circuit judge in 1999, and chief judge in 2006.

As a judge, Callis was involved with the creation of the first Veterans’ Court in Illinois, which received the national 2010 Paul H. Chapman Award. The court is run by veterans and provides services to county veterans.[7][8]

Callis also created mediation programs aimed at helping homeowners and lenders avoid mortgage foreclosures.[9]

In a 2012 poll of lawyers, Callis was recommended for retention, with 83.64% of those responding saying Callis "meets requirements of office." Three other judges from the 3rd Judicial Circuit received higher scores than Callis. Her lowest score in the judicial evaluations, 82.63%, was in the category "impartiality." Her highest scores were 98.8 in "health" and 92.77 in "sensitivity."[10]

2014 U.S. House campaign
See also: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois § District 13

Callis stepped down as a judge in 2013 in order to run for Congress in Illinois's 13th congressional district.[6][11]

The Chicago Tribune endorsed Callis's Democratic primary competitor, George Gollin, writing: "Callis sticks to safe talking points, occasionally name-checking Durbin. Her answers to our survey are carefully scripted, heavy on promises to protect seniors and middle-class families without explaining what she'd actually do."[12]

Callis won the Democratic primary on March 18, 2014. Callis lost to Republican incumbent Rodney L. Davis in the November 4, 2014, general election.[13]

Callis was endorsed by Democratic Senator Dick Durbin and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.[14] Her campaign was supported by Nancy Pelosi, who appeared at "When Women Succeed, America Succeeds, Women on a Roll" bus tour.[15]

Callis was endorsed by the national Veteran's Vision publication.[16] She was also endorsed by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.[17] Callis was endorsed by EMILY's List, who called her a "perfect foil" for incumbent Rodney Davis.[18][19]

In October 2014, Roll Call reported that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee would be cutting back initially planned ads supporting Callis in the second-to-last-week of the cycle, part of a larger series of cuts that "serve as a signal the party does not see a path to victory for these candidates or races."[20]

Issue positions

Callis supports the Affordable Care Act, saying: "We can't just shut down our government and cost our economy billions of dollars because we disagree with a law."[12] When asked if she supported single-payer health care, Callis said: "I think we need to wait and see what the Affordable Healthcare Act does."[21]

Personal life

Callis has two children: a son who is an Airborne Ranger, Captain and Company Commander with the 82nd Airborne Division, and a daughter who is an English Second Language teacher.[22]

References
  1. Krajelis, Bethany (2013-05-31). "Callis' economic interests grew from 10 to 27 items during her judicial career". Madison-St Clair Record. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  2. Carlson, Eric (16 October 2014). "13th Congressional District: Rodney Davis vs. Ann Callis". NBC News. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  3. Bosworth, Charles (1994-12-16). "New Judge Has Name Influential in Politics". St Louis Post-Dispatch.
  4. "3rd Judicial: Ann Callis, non-partisan-Troy". BND.com. Archived from the original on 7 August 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  5. Bosworth, Charles (1995-04-27). "New Judge Gets Low Marks in Poll". St Louis-Post Dispatch. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  6. McDermott, Kevin (6 May 2013). "A year and a half out, Callis makes it official for congress". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  7. "Callis wins Democratic nomination for 13th Congressional District". Daily Illini. Archived from the original on 6 August 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  8. "Veterans' Court receives national award". Edwardsville Intelligencer. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  9. "Madison County courts start program to avoid foreclosures". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  10. "Callis announces run for 13th District". News-Gazette. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  11. Bossert, Jeff (7 May 2013). "Former Chief Judge to Challenge Davis in 13th District". Illinois Public Media. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  12. Kacich, Tom (2014-03-16). "Many Dems rally behind Callis in congressional primary, but papers endorsing Gollin". News-Gazette. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  13. Cahn, Emily (2014-03-18). "Ann Callis, Rodney Davis to Face Off in Targeted Illinois District". Roll Call. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  14. Joseph, Cameron (2014-03-18). "Eyes on Illinois on Tuesday night". The Hill. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  15. Sweet, Lynn (June 3, 2014). "Pelosi hits Chicago to rally women for Callis, Schneider". Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 24 November 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  16. "National Veterans' group endorses Ann Callis for Congress". Re:Decatur. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  17. "Social Security advocacy group endorses Callis for 13th District". Belleville News Democrat. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  18. Erickson, Kurt (6 August 2013). "Women's group endorses former Judge Callis in 13th District race". Pantagraph.
  19. "Candidates: Ann Callis". EMILY's List. EMILY's List. Archived from the original on 30 September 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  20. Livingston, Abby (6 October 2014). "DCCC Cuts Airtime in 8 TV Markets". Roll Call. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  21. "Q&A: Ann Callis, U.S. House, 13th District". News-Gazette. March 4, 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  22. Schoenburg, Bernard (12 May 2013). "Democrat Callis moving into role as candidate". The State Journal-Register. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
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