(Above) Lira Luis, an architect who lives at Marina City, votes in her first election since she became a U.S. citizen in 2009. Luis was the first Filipino graduate of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture in Scottsdale, Arizona. She is currently principal architect at Atelier Lira Luis, LLC in Chicago.

March 21, 2012 – It was an important election for some but not many, as both the 42nd ward and the tiny 27th precinct comprised of Marina City saw low voter turnout on Tuesday.

Of 38,507 registered voters in the ward, only about 27 percent actually voted. Marina City had a higher turnout, but still the lowest in recent years – 33 percent of 484 registered voters.

In the Republican presidential primary, more than half of the votes from the 27th precinct were for Mitt Romney, with Rick Santorum coming in second. Danny Davis received 80 percent of the precinct’s votes for U.S. Representative for the 7th Congressional district, with challenger Jacques Conway receiving 19 percent. In the Illinois race for 5th district state representative, Ken Duncan – who visited the polling place on the 20th floor of Marina City’s east tower – beat Dori Collins, getting 74 percent of the votes.

In a contentious campaign for ward committeeman, Eloise Gerson with 40 percent of the votes got by Tom Smithburg, who had 30 percent, and William J. Kelly, who had 29 percent.

Levin finishes fourth

Citywide, of six candidates for Circuit Court judge in the 8th sub-circuit, condo attorney and former legislator Ellis Levin finished in fourth place. He did no better in the 27th precinct, representing just residents of Marina City. Levin was the attorney for the condominium association at Marina City for most of 17 years. Only 11 residents voted for him.

Of 23,000 votes cast in Chicago, Levin (left) received 2,480 votes or 10.78 percent. John Ehrlich won the election with 35.17 percent, followed by James Kaplan and Helaine Berger. Levin beat Brad Trowbridge, a lawyer specializing in family law, and Gideon Baum, who since 1998 has been an attorney with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Levin received the highest percentage of votes in Chicago’s 3rd ward, where he came in third. His campaign manager, Josh Kilroy, did not respond to an email seeking comment.

• More results for Levin: Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago (Select Judge, 8th Subcircuit Vacancy of Cole)
• Primary results (27th Precinct): Page One
• Primary results (27th Precinct): Page Two