The General Election - 2006 -- PART 3 -The Judicial Races

To me this is the sad part of voting, when you look at the population of the State of Ohio which is nearly 12 Million people only about 10% of the population or the size of Cuyahoga County will elect members of the Supreme Court.

To me, Ladies and Gentlemen, these races are more important that the Governor's race because they can decide how business is conducted and how our lives are lead. These men and women of the bench can decide whether someone live or dies and yet if you have a name you can get elected no matter your abilities.

That is why I suggest you look at the Candidates who are or have been judges before you decide on which person to vote for the Supreme Court and the appellate Courts.

For the Supreme Court of the State Ohio

There are two seats up this year, one is being defended by the incumbent Terrence O'Donnell the second one is open. All the candidates have excellent qualifications and if we had to elect for four jurists then all of these gentlemen would receive my vote, however we must pick only two.

With respect to the Terrence O'Donnell versus William O'Neill race, I am voting for O'Donnell. Judge O'Donnell has served well on the Supreme Court and should be re-elected. I find it interesting that one of the key themes of his campaign in the late stages was the 91% remark. He has pointed out that O'Donnell has decided cases for his contributors 91% of the time. I find that remark interesting because in the judicial races lawyers tend to give to both candidates, so if O'Neill gets elected then he would probably have the same amount as well. So I think that number is a misleading statement.

In the other Supreme Court Race: its Ben Espy versus Robert Cupp, this is an interesting race where truly either candidate would serve well on the bench. Mr Espy is a long time practicing attorney with service within the Attorney General's office, Mr. Cupp is currently serving on the Third District Court of Appeals.

With the experience on the bench, I say vote for Robert Cupp.

Now for the Cuyahoga Judicial Races

I am only going to talk about the races with challenges, the rest are already re-elected.

The 8th district Court of Appeals (Two Races)

The first race is between Mary Boyle and Ralph Perk, I haven't seen much of a campaign from either of these two, but I am told Judge Boyle doesn't believe in yard signs and Perk has only a few in the 'Wood. I have seen Judge Boyle on the bench, she is a hard worker and she deserves the chance on the Court of Appeals, MARY J. BOYLE should get the nod.

The second race is between Melody Stewart and Brian Moriarty, essentially these two are newcomers to this level of the bench, Stewart was a volunteer Magistrate in the Juvenile Diversion Program and Moriarty was an acting Judge in the Rocky River Muni Court. However, I think the slight edge should be given to Brian Moriarty for his work with the Court of Appeals as a Staff Attorney.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS:

Ronald Suster vs Roger Kramer - Go with the experience Judge Suster. For the CSI or Law and Order fans Judge Suster was the judge who presided over the most recent Sam Sheppard Trial.

John P. O'Donnell vs. John F. Corrigan - This to me is a PICK'EM race. As far as I am concerned neither of these two candidates have really bowled me over, even though O'Donnell has experience. Vote Corrigan.

For the rest of the races, here is what I believe to be the winners:

Kathleen Ann Sutula (Incumbent)
Marilyn Barkley Cassidy
Shirley Strickland Saffold (Incumbent)
Joan Synenberg (Currently Muni Court Judge)
Dick Ambrose (Judge by Appointment)
Jeff Hastings (Judge by Appointment)
Alison Nelson Floyd (Too many McMonagle's on bench already)

Juvenile Court
Martin Keenan get the nod