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030401
Published Sunday, April 27, 2003
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MERCER COUNTY By Kristen Garrett Herald Staff Writer For the first time since 1995, the Mercer County Bar Association has rated each of the eight candidates for Mercer County Common Pleas Court Judge, putting John C. Reed and Christopher J. St. John ahead of the pack, with James M. Goodwin not far behind. Ninety-five of the association's 126 members rated each of the candidates as highly qualified, qualified or unqualified. The results were released Saturday. Reed and St. John were perceived as highly qualified by 55 and 52 members, respectively. Thirty members think Reed is qualified, and 34 think St. John is qualified. Only nine members rated Reed as unqualified and eight rated St. John as unqualified. "I think it's really reassuring to receive a vote of confidence for my many years of service to Mercer County from the majority of my fellow attorneys," St. John said. A news release explained the rating of highly qualified means the candidate "possesses the highest reputation for competence, integrity and temperament. " Qualified means "based on competency, integrity and temperament, the candidate would be able to perform satisfactorily as a judge of the court. " Not qualified means, "based on competency, integrity and temperament, the candidate is inadequate to perform satisfactorily as a judge of the court. " Goodwin also fared well with his peers. He was ranked as highly qualified by 22 members of the bar association and as qualified by 68 members. He was ranked as not qualified by three members. "I think it represents me fairly well," Goodwin said. Lagging behind the other candidates was Joann Margaret Jofery. She was rated as unqualified by 58 members of the association, by 31 members as qualified and by four as highly qualified. "I can't explain it," Ms. Jofery said. "I think that I'm fully qualified to be judge. I have no explanation for it ... I've been told that on some perverse level that's a real compliment to my candidacy. " Ms. Jofery said she's "extremely heartened " by the support she's gotten from people, many of whom have never been involved in a political campaign before. Margaret Thomas Lucas was rated highly qualified by 17, qualified by 54 and unqualified by 22 respondents. William Gamble McConnell Jr. was rated highly qualified by 15, qualified by 47 and unqualified by 31 members. Stephen J. Mirizio was rated highly qualified by 19, qualified by 57 and unqualified by 17 members. James Nevant II was rated highly qualified by 13, qualified by 53 and unqualified by 27 respondents. How much the ratings will play a part when voters cast their ballots is anyone's guess. "I think first of all that the bar association should be complimented for giving voters another thing to look at when they're evaluating the candidate," Goodwin said. "The voters have it. They can use it if they want to. It's hard to tell what swings voters, but it's another thing for them to consider when they step into the booth. " Ms. Jofery said she doesn't know if the rating will have an effect on voters. "That's really hard to say. There was a lot of controversy in 1995 when Gruitza (state Rep. Michael C. Gruitza, Hermitage, D-7th District)got the lowest rating and the Democratic nomination. I think the voters make up their own mind. " St. John said he thinks the ratings will play a big role in the election. "The attorneys are the ones who really know the individual candidates," he said. All candidates received a questionnaire regarding their personal and professional background and legal experience. Members of the bar association used the answers to the questionnaires to form their opinions on the candidates' knowledge of the law, professional experience, judgment, decisiveness, open-mindedness, patience and integrity. Voters will be able to choose two candidates in the upcoming election. Each term is for 10 years;the job pays $121, 272 a year plus benefits. The Herald was unable to contact Reed, Ms. Lucas, McConnell, Mirizio and Nevant on Saturday. You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Kristen Garrett at: kgarrett@sharonherald.com |
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Questions/comments: online@sharonherald.com Reproduction or retransmission in any form is prohibited without our permission. 030401
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