Judge Larisa Benitez-Morgan, appointed to the Kenosha County Circuit Court early this year, will have a challenger in her first run for election this spring.
Benitez-Morgan was appointed to the Branch 1 seat in February, chosen by Gov. Tony Evers to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of longtime Judge David Bastianelli. She confirmed she is planning to run for election in April to try to retain the seat.
Also planning to run for the seat is Kenosha resident Gerad Dougvillo. A former prosecutor in Racine County, Dougvillo has been working since 2016 as a court commissioner in Walworth County.
The seat is one of two judgeships that will be up for election in April. With Judge Mary K. Wagner announcing she will step down at the end of her term, three candidates plan to run for her Branch 6 seat. Competing for Wagnerâs seat are Deputy Kenosha County District Attorney Angelina Gabriele, attorney Angela Cunningham, and Elizabeth Pfeuffer, a Kenosha County court commissioner.