December 8, 2011 – A former attorney for the condo board at Marina City is running for judge in Cook County. Ellis Levin filed for candidacy on Monday at 4:44 p.m., just 16 minutes before the deadline.

He is one of seven candidates running in the county’s 8th sub-circuit that includes downtown Chicago. The other six candidates all filed on the first day of the filing period but the candidate who gets the coveted first spot on the ballot is chosen by lottery.

Levin (left) told The State Journal-Register that he decided it made no sense to take that chance. “Prevailing wisdom, whether it’s true or not, is you’re best to be first, and if not first, last.”

For most of 17 years, Levin served as legal counsel to Marina Towers Condominium Association. He was let go by the condo board in 2000 but re-hired three years later. On November 19, 2009, the board voted to again terminate Levin and retain a new attorney.

Levin was a state representative, serving Chicago in the General Assembly from 1977 to 1995. He lost a primary election to Sara Feigenholtz, who is still in office. In 1983, he co-authored amendments to The Illinois Condominium Property Act.

In 2008, Marina City Online filed a complaint against Levin with the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, charging the attorney violated its First Amendment right to free speech by threatening the website with large fines.

A second complaint was filed by Dr. Martin Flynn, who was on the MTCA board of directors from 2000 to 2002, alleging Levin single-handedly kept him from running for re-election in 2006 by not accepting a copy of the warranty deed for his condo unit as proof of ownership. The ARDC declined to take action in either complaint.

The next primary election is scheduled for March 20, 2012.

• Updated story: Levin launches campaign website
• Related story: Ellis Levin, Marina Towers condo association part ways