Below are Chicago Sun-Times endorsements for contested races in Tuesday’s primary election. Voters can take this list and bar association judge ratings into polling places. To read the detailed endorsement, click on the name.

We said it once, but we'll say it again: Chicago Ald. Toni Preckwinkle is far and away the best candidate running in Tuesday's Democratic primary for Cook County Board president.

The most consequential vote you may cast Tuesday -- on behalf of a woman seeking custody of her children, a senior citizen trying to keep his house, or a man facing a death sentence -- is for judge.

Unlike, say, the Cook County recorder of deeds office, the assessor's office is of the utmost importance to every taxpayer.

In 2008, during the first crush of home foreclosures, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart noticed that many people who had been diligently paying their rent were being evicted because -- unknown to them -- their landlords had stopped paying the mortgage.

A new legal battle among the Great Lakes states over the threat of Asian carp has highlighted the importance of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.

Today, we offer endorsements in five more Chicago area state representative primary races.

Today, we offer endorsements in five more Chicago area state representative primary races.

Today and Monday, the Sun-Times offers endorsements in primary races for the Illinois House. Every seat is up for grabs. The Sun-Times' endorsements cover contested races in Chicago and the near suburbs. Unless noted, each race has no Republican candidate in the Feb. 2 primary.

Forty-one candidates are running for 17 contested seats on the Cook County Board, which has proved itself in the last four years to be a panel in desperate need of new direction. Here are endorsements in those races:

Today, the Sun-Times makes its endorsements in four contested Illinois Senate races. In all but the 7th District, where we back a rising star already in the Legislature, the theme is clear: Bring in some new blood. Endorsements for the Illinois House are coming Monday.

Today the Sun-Times offers endorsements in contested Democratic and Republican primary races in the 10th, 11th and 14th congressional districts. To read our endorsements earlier this week in other contested congressional primaries in the Chicago area, go to our endorsements page.

Today and tomorrow, the Chicago Sun-Times offers its endorsements in the Feb. 2 Democratic and Republican primary elections for Congress. Today, we look at competitive races in seven Chicago-area districts. Tomorrow, we will offer endorsements in races in four other districts.

Two strong Democratic candidates are vying to become the next Illinois treasurer.

Given the pay-for-play scandals of the Rod Blagojevich era, "transparency" is a constant theme among the candidates vying for Illinois comptroller, the office that is the repository for state contracts and writes the state's checks. The field of Democrats and Republicans showcases excellent contenders, a prodigious fund-raiser and one veteran with a wealth of experience in state finances.

Cook County's government is so vast and so complicated that an effective reformer needs more than good intentions. He or she also must understand the behind-the-scenes workings of bureaucracies and know how to deal with other elected county officials who have their own budget priorities.

The list of must-have qualities for the next Cook County Board President is mercifully short.

We first came to know David Hoffman when he was inspector general for the City of Chicago -- a thankless job that amounted to being the official thorn in Mayor Daley's side.