The topics of conversation ranged from the importance of having good judges on the bench and other election season issues to what are the best ingredients and proportions for a good kugel at Mary Stowell's Winnetka home last Sunday, January 22. Friends, family and neighbors of Wilmette's Abbey Fishman Romanek, candidate for Cook County judge of the 9th Subcircuit, gathered to hear Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky talk about why she's endorsed Romanek for the judiciary. The event also included Illinois state representatives Robyn Gabel and Daniel Biss and New Trier Democratic Committeeman Dean Maragos who are also endorsing Romanek.

A Skokie native and 1978 graduate of Evanston Township High School, Romanek has had over 25 years of courtroom experience. She is also an active board member for various community organizations and even supervises a soup kitchen. Her extensive experience in law and involvement in the community is what drew Joe Liss of Evanston to support Romanek, a fellow member of the Evanston-based Connections for the Homeless' board.

"I think she is a person dedicated to making the world a better place, and you can tell by all the activities she's involved in and the not-for-profit boards she's on. I think she's had a lot of experience in the practice of law on the corporate end, the defensive end, and the prosecution end," he said.

This neighborhood get-together was complete with wine, appetizers and homemade kugel. For some, it was even a family affair. Romanek was joined by her husband, Daron Romanek, who mingled with guests while their three sons were all on hand to make sure everything ran smoothly, from checking guests in to taking their coats. Schakowsky's husband Robert Creamer was included, as was Liss' wife, Marcia, and his sister Sheila Meyer of Skokie.

Meyer, a longtime supporter, fondly remembers the first time she met Romanek. "It was like love at first sight...when I met her, I could tell we were kindred spirits," she said. "It would be very nice to have someone who shared my world view and my sense of justice in this judgeship."

Like Meyer, many there had met Romanek previously through events similar to this one, but 9th grader Sarah Stauber, who tagged along with her mother, Camille, was eager to hear Romanek speak for the first time. "My mom was pretty adamant about making me come, but I was also interested in the judicial system and how people vote, what they'e voting for, and what they're interested in," she commented.

Romanek has been campaigning for judge on a platform of wisdom, courage, and compassion, which relates to a second campaign of hers, one against bullying. In an age where bullying in schools is rising, she is a fierce advocate for anti-bullying education, noting the importance of teaching children to be "upstanders rather than bystanders."

This resonated tremendously with Stauber. She explained, "I think it's important to have anti-bullying programs. I had problems when I was little, and there were few people who are willing to go out there and, like [Romanek] said, be courageous and help me."

As guests lingered to munch on their last bites of kugel and borrow neighbor Ruth Krugly's recipe, Romanek commented on the crucial difference between herself and other candidates. "While you have to look at the facts and the law, you also have to realize that you're dealing with everyday lives...there's a certain depth and breadth of experience that I have that you don't usually find on the bench. I have a lot of wisdom that would make me a good judge for Cook County."