Peers rate Erie County judge candidates
The
Erie County Bar Association has weighed evidence about whether eight
local lawyers, in the association's view, have the competency, integrity
and temperament to serve as Erie County judge.
Several hundred of the association's members made that evaluation in a poll, called a plebiscite, the local bar released this week in advance of the May 19 primary for two open seats on the bench. The members rated each candidate as "highly recommended," "recommended," "not recommended" or "no opinion."
The top three finishers -- Joe Walsh, Ed Smith and Jamie Mead -- were separated by five votes.
Walsh earned the most combined votes of recommended and highly recommended, with 258. Smith and Mead each earned 253 combined votes of recommended and highly recommended. Smith got five more votes of highly recommended than Mead.
To earn an overall recommended status, the candidates had to get at least 50 percent of their votes in the "highly recommended" and "recommended" categories.
The other candidates ranked as follows, based on the number of their combined recommended and highly recommended votes: Chad Vilushis (206), Damon Hopkins (156), Elvage Murphy (98), Erin Connelly (82) and Anthony "Buzz" Andrezeski (eight).
- Walsh, 56, a general practitioner: "I am pleased with the results. Receiving the highest recommendation, from the people that are in the best position to evaluate the judicial candidates, is very humbling."
- Smith, 56, a general practitioner: "I am very pleased and honored with the vote. I would note that 93 percent of the attorneys who had an opinion as to my qualifications either voted me recommended or highly recommended."
- Mead, 56, a former federal prosecutor: "I sincerely appreciate the strong positive response of my peers who found me highly qualified or qualified, and I will continue to work throughout my campaign to earn the trust of the people of our county."
Mead is a board member and shareholder of the Times Publishing Company, which publishes the Erie Times-News and GoErie.com.
- Vilushis, 42, a former assistant Erie County district attorney: "Of those who had an opinion, 86 percent believe me to be qualified to be judge. It's my hope that the community takes the insight of the legal community ... into consideration when voting in the primary election."
- Hopkins, 44, a former assistant district attorney: "I'm proud to have received the recommendation from 50 percent of the bar association members who took the time to vote. I am one of the only candidates with over 20 years of experience in civil, criminal and family law."
- Murphy, 49, a professor of political science at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a former assistant district attorney: "I am very proud of my record as an attorney (and) a professor ... and my commitment to Erie County. I understand and fully embrace each stage of this political process and remain enthusiastic about the vision of my candidacy."
- Connelly, 37, an assistant district attorney: "I am not running to serve the lawyers. I am running for judge to serve the community. I have almost 12 years of experience of being in the courtroom every day."
- Andrezeski, 67, a former state senator: "I am a licensed attorney and I meet the qualifications to be a judge."
Andrezeski announced his candidacy after the bar held its initial plebiscite. The bar held a separate poll for him.
Several hundred of the association's members made that evaluation in a poll, called a plebiscite, the local bar released this week in advance of the May 19 primary for two open seats on the bench. The members rated each candidate as "highly recommended," "recommended," "not recommended" or "no opinion."
The top three finishers -- Joe Walsh, Ed Smith and Jamie Mead -- were separated by five votes.
Walsh earned the most combined votes of recommended and highly recommended, with 258. Smith and Mead each earned 253 combined votes of recommended and highly recommended. Smith got five more votes of highly recommended than Mead.
To earn an overall recommended status, the candidates had to get at least 50 percent of their votes in the "highly recommended" and "recommended" categories.
The other candidates ranked as follows, based on the number of their combined recommended and highly recommended votes: Chad Vilushis (206), Damon Hopkins (156), Elvage Murphy (98), Erin Connelly (82) and Anthony "Buzz" Andrezeski (eight).
- Walsh, 56, a general practitioner: "I am pleased with the results. Receiving the highest recommendation, from the people that are in the best position to evaluate the judicial candidates, is very humbling."
- Smith, 56, a general practitioner: "I am very pleased and honored with the vote. I would note that 93 percent of the attorneys who had an opinion as to my qualifications either voted me recommended or highly recommended."
- Mead, 56, a former federal prosecutor: "I sincerely appreciate the strong positive response of my peers who found me highly qualified or qualified, and I will continue to work throughout my campaign to earn the trust of the people of our county."
Mead is a board member and shareholder of the Times Publishing Company, which publishes the Erie Times-News and GoErie.com.
- Vilushis, 42, a former assistant Erie County district attorney: "Of those who had an opinion, 86 percent believe me to be qualified to be judge. It's my hope that the community takes the insight of the legal community ... into consideration when voting in the primary election."
- Hopkins, 44, a former assistant district attorney: "I'm proud to have received the recommendation from 50 percent of the bar association members who took the time to vote. I am one of the only candidates with over 20 years of experience in civil, criminal and family law."
- Murphy, 49, a professor of political science at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a former assistant district attorney: "I am very proud of my record as an attorney (and) a professor ... and my commitment to Erie County. I understand and fully embrace each stage of this political process and remain enthusiastic about the vision of my candidacy."
- Connelly, 37, an assistant district attorney: "I am not running to serve the lawyers. I am running for judge to serve the community. I have almost 12 years of experience of being in the courtroom every day."
- Andrezeski, 67, a former state senator: "I am a licensed attorney and I meet the qualifications to be a judge."
Andrezeski announced his candidacy after the bar held its initial plebiscite. The bar held a separate poll for him.
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