Seven to compete for two judge positions
November 3, 2005
Next week, residents will elect two Portage County Municipal Court judges.
Both contests are for unexpired terms. Judges are usually elected on even years for six-year terms, but two vacancies led to the open positions.
Municipal judges hear traffic and criminal misdemeanor cases as well as civil cases where the disputed amount is less than $15,000. Two of the three municipal judges in Portage County are based in Ravenna; the other is based in Kent.
The first term, ending Dec. 31, 2007, became open after the death of Judge Donald Martell. Judge Barbara Oswick was appointed to the position in Kent Municipal Court by Gov. Bob Taft last September and is now challenged by Timothy Ludick, Brady Lake solicitor and a former mayor of Kent.
The second term, ending Dec. 31, 2009, was vacated when Judge Laurie Pittman was elected to the Portage County Common Pleas Court. William Nome was appointed to the judgeship in February and now is running against four other contenders for the spot. Ravenna law director Frank Cimino, attorney Melanie Miguel-Courtad, former county prosecutor John Plough and chief assistant prosecutor Denise Smith are vying for the position.
Contact public affairs reporter Grace Dobush at [email protected].
KENT
Candidates for term ending Dec. 31, 2007
Name: Timothy J. Ludick
Age: 54
Occupation: Prosecutor and solicitor of Brady Lake
Experience: Former mayor of Kent, Kent City Council member, law director and prosecutor of Streetsboro, acting judge in Portage County Municipal Court, 28 years as practicing attorney
Education: Bachelor’s degree from the College of Wooster, law degree from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Goals if elected: Ensure cases are properly handled in a speedy fashion.
Name: Barbara Oswick
Age: 56
Occupation: Portage County Municipal Court judge in Kent
Experience: Private practice for 12 years, assistant prosecutor and felony child abuse prosecutor in Portage County Prosecutor’s Office
Education: Bachelor’s degree from Elmira College, law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Goals if elected: Reach out to college and high school students to prevent offenses and increase awareness.
RAVENNA
Candidates for term ending Dec. 31, 2009
Name: Frank J. Cimino
Age: 58
Occupation: Ravenna law director since 1976
Experience: Private practice for 30 years, assistant law director of the City of Kent for 15 years, special prosecutor for Portage County Prosecutor’s Office, chief of Prosecutor’s criminal division
Education: Bachelor’s degree from Hiram College, law degree from University of Akron
Goals if elected: Take care of cases on the docket and ensure that matters do not become delinquent.
Name: Melanie Miguel-Courtad
Age: 36
Occupation: Attorney
Experience: Private practice
Education: Bachelor’s degree from John Carroll, law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Goals if elected: Ensure timely resolution of cases, explore using the Internet for case management, increase jurors’ pay, punish those who disregard safety.
Name: William A. Nome
Age: 54
Occupation: Portage County Municipal Court judge in Ravenna
Experience: Lawyer for 29 years, Common Pleas arbitrator in Summit and Portage counties, acting judge in Portage County Municipal Court, legal counsel for PARTA
Education: Bachelor’s degree from University of Akron, law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Goals if elected: Continue to decrease case backlog and pursue collection from people who have not paid fines ordered by the court.
Name: John J. Plough
Age: 58
Occupation: Attorney
Experience: Portage County prosecutor for 12 years, special counsel to Ohio Attorney General
Education: Bachelor’s degree from Kent State, law degree from Boston University
Goals if elected: Save time by staggering arraignment times for traffic violations, establishing a night court and using mediation in civil cases; save money by cutting staff.
Name: Denise L. Smith
Age: 49
Occupation: Portage County chief assistant prosecutor
Experience: Worked in Prosecutor’s Office for 14 years, private practice
Education: Bachelor’s degree from Hiram College, law degree from University of Akron
Goals if elected: Be fair, objective and respectful in proceedings and make sure court is run in a fiscally sound matter.
