The Illinois State Bar Association election cycle begins today and Board of Governors member Paula H. Holderman of Chicago has announced her candidacy for third vice president. The complete notice of elections is on pages 6 and 7 of the Illinois Lawyer Now Quarterly that was recently mailed to members. Seven contests are scheduled for seats on the Board of Governors: Cook – 3 to be elected Incumbents: Russell W. Hartigan – Chicago Paula H. Holderman – Chicago* Mark E. Wojcik – Chicago Area 2 (Circuits 17 & 19) – 1 to be elected Incumbent: Bernard Wysocki – Waukegan Area 5 (Circuits 5, 6, & 11) – 1 to be elected Incumbent: Stephen R. Pacey – Paxton Under Age 37 – Downstate – 1 to be elected Incumbent: Dion U. Davi – Wheaton** Under Age 37 – Cook – 1 to be elected Incumbent: Gina Arquilla DeBoni – Chicago * Eligible to run, but would only be entitled to serve two years. Under the bylaws the third vice-president automatically succeeds to the office of second vice-president; therefore, there is no incumbent for this office. ** Ineligible to succeed due to age limitations. The entire Downstate Assembly and 39 Assembly seats from Cook County are up for election. Nominating petitions may be filed no earlier than January 15, 2010 and must be filed by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at either the Illinois Bar Center, 424 South 2nd Street, in Springfield or the ISBA Chicago Office at 20 S. Clark Street, 9th Floor, Chicago. Petitions must be physically submitted with original signatures. Petitions submitted via email or fax will not be accepted. Click here for more election information.