Candidate for
Superior Court Judge; County of Monterey; Seat 2

Endorsements

I do not believe a candidate for judicial office should seek nor accept any endorsements. Therefore, I have not sought nor accepted any. The job of judging is essentially settling disputes. Litigants would not need a judge if they could settle their differences without outside intervention. Emotions often run high and the loser often looks for reasons outside of the lawsuit itself to explain the outcome. I will not put any litigant in the position of wondering if he/she will receive, or has received, a fair and impartial hearing because the opponent or his/her counsel endorsed me.

Specialty Courts

The legislature has basically mandated specialty courts in the area of drug possession and usage. These courts generally are more expensive because they need to draw upon other agencies to implement programs and supervise participants. In this time of extreme financial crisis, I believe it inappropriate to institute any new specialty court or continue with any specialty court that is not mandated by statute. I believe the regular courts can handle these duties just as well.

Why I am seeking this judgeship

I believe that I have the maturity, patience, knowledge and overall temperment to be a judge of the Superior Court. I don't believe being older, alone, necessarily qualifies a candidate to be a judge, but it does give a broader perspective and greater appreciation for the diversity of life experiences that will be brought before the court. Moreover, I have the longest and closest ties with Monterey County than anyone else running for this office.