Kane judge race heats up as Pedersen's ads link Flood to Trump

KANE COUNTY – The race for circuit judge in Kane County between Republican Elizabeth Flood and Democrat Brittany Pedersen now includes accusations from Pedersen that the same people who donated to President Trump also donated to Flood, according to a mailer, a pop up ad and a website from her campaign.

Flood was an associate judge for eight years and is currently filling a vacancy left by Judge Robert Spence, who retired and is now running for Kane County State’s Attorney. The vacancy expires in the Nov. 3 general election.

Pedersen is an attorney in private practice, with experience as a public defender in Kane County.

A recent mailer by Pedersen states, “Stop the FLOOD of NEGATIVITY,” and “We must stop the FLOOD of TRUMP money from influencing our Judicial Elections” and pictures Flood and President Trump together.

A pop up ad asks, “Why are Trump donors spending big money to elect Elizabeth Flood as judge? Trump & Flood: The wrong fit for Kane County.”

When Pedersen was asked about the ads, she responded via email with a campaign website, www.trumpflooddonors.com, that lists seven donors who gave money to Trump's and to Flood's campaign.

Flood criticized Pedersen's ads in a Facebook video, saying there is no connection between her and Trump.

“None,” Flood stated in the video. “There’s also no connection between myself and Joe Biden. As a state court judge, we have nothing to do with federal officials. … “This ad is misleading and false.”

Flood’s campaign treasurer found one person who donated over $1,000 to her campaign had also donated to Trump’s campaign, she said.

“Four people donated to me and other Democratic candidates and no one else donated on the federal level,” Flood stated in her video.

“As a judge, it is my job to treat everyone fairly and make impartial decisions every day in court. … And that is why this is so troubling to me,” Flood stated in her video. “As judges it is our job to deal with truth and honesty and facts … not to act with dishonesty or make false or misleading statements.”

According to the Federal Election Commission and the Illinois State Board of Elections, Jerome Bettag of St. Charles donated $200 to Flood in 2018 and 2020 and $6,750 to Trump in 2018 and 2019; and Emir Abinion, also of St Charles, donated $2,000 to Flood and $2,800 to Trump in 2020.

“I don’t know if the information on this website is accurate,” Flood stated in a text message. “But I would not be surprised if seven people out of 200 who support me also support the President. I already know that five people who donated to my campaign also support Joe Biden or Democratic candidates. So making any inference about my values based on these donations is ludicrous.”