Just who is on the General Election ballot?
Published 10:01 am Tuesday, September 30, 2014
We all know that the two competing gun initiatives are on the Nov. 4 General Election ballot. But what about who is running for office? Here’s a guide to some of the candidates who will be on your November ballot.
District Court judges
This November’s general election features three contested races in the Northeast electoral District Court. While incumbents Peter Nault, David Steiner, Michael Finkle and Donna Tucker are running unopposed in Positions No. 4, 5, 6 and 7, incumbents Janet Garrow and Ketu Shah are being challenged in Positions No. 1 and 2 by Dawn Bettinger and Sarah Hayne, respectively.
Two newcomers, Lisa O’Toole and Marcus Naylor, square off in Pos. No. 3.
District Court judges are elected to four-year terms, and all District Court positions are up for election in 2014. King County is divided geographically into five electoral districts. Voters elect judges in the electoral district where they reside.
In some states, judges are appointed. Most states, including Washington, have judicial elections of one form or another. Judicial positions are nonpartisan. For more information, go to votingforjudges.org.
Judge Pos. No. 1
Janet Garrow versus Dawn Bettinger
Garrow, the incumbent, was elected to the King County District Court in 1998 and re-elected in 2002, 2006 and 2010. The Cardozo Society and the King County Bar Association rate Garrow as “exceptionally well qualified.” She is endorsed by King County Democrats as well as Mercer Island Deputy Mayor Dan Grausz and Councilmember Benson Wong.
“I am committed to handling all cases fairly, impartially and with respect for all participants,” Garrow writes on her website. “Improving our court system to make it more accessible and efficient has always been a major priority for me.”
http://www.reelectjudgejanetgarrow.com/
Bettinger has been practicing criminal law since 2001. In addition to serving as a Pro Tem judge, Bettinger has served in the King County Prosecutor’s office, as a public defender and at a private legal practice. The King County Republican Party endorses her.
“I’ve seen through experience how difficult it is to navigate our justice system. As a judge pro-tem, I’ve seen too many defendants lose access to justice. This must change. I will bring access, fairness, compassion, and accountability back to the judiciary,” Bettinger writes.
Judge Pos. No. 2
Ketu Shah versus Sarah Hayne
Shah, the incumbent, joined the King County District Court in 2013 to complete the term of Judge Frank LaSalata. Shah “intends to respect Judge LaSalata’s memory by serving his position with integrity and fairness,” according to his website.
King County Democrats, 41st Representative Tana Senn, Mercer Island Mayor Bruce Bassett and Seattle Mayor Ed Murray endorse him. He has more than 20 years of legal experience as a prosecutor, private civil attorney, Pro Tem judge and now a sitting judge. He has been rated by the King County Bar Association and all the minority bar associations as “exceptionally well qualified.”
Hayne has worked as a Pro Tem judge, a Deputy Prosecutor and a private attorney. She is endorsed by King County Republicans, National Women’s Political Caucus and 1st LD Democrats.
“Statistics clearly show that the greatest danger to public safety comes from repeat offenders,” Hayne writes. “As a Judge, I will work to focus the court’s resources on them, both in terms of treatment and consequences. This will reduce the backlog of cases and save taxpayer dollars while also increasing public safety.”
Judge Pos. No. 3
Lisa O’Toole versus Marcus Naylor
O’Toole has 27 years of experience practicing law and trying cases, both as a King County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney and as a civil attorney in private practice. She is endorsed by Linda Jacke, the outgoing Pos. No. 3 district court judge who is retiring after 22 years.
King County Democrats, Mayor Bassett and Mercer Island City Councilmember Mike Cero also endorse her.
Jacke was appointed to the district court judicial position by the King County Council in 1992. She served in the Bellevue, Mercer Island, Redmond and Issaquah courts and as a Pro Tem judge in King County Juvenile Court.
O’Toole’s “broad base of experience allows her to conduct court hearings in an extremely efficient, thorough, and considerate manner,” according to her website.
http://lisaotooleforjudge.com/
Naylor has more 20 years of criminal and civil experience as an attorney and part-time judge.
“I am the only candidate in this race rated ‘exceptionally well qualified’ by the King County Bar Association,” Naylor writes. “That’s why I am the only candidate endorsed by both the King County Republican Party and the King County Democratic Party.”
He has worked in the Northwest Defenders Division (NDD) of King County Department of Public Defense since 1992.
A third candidate for Pos. No. 3, Rick Leo, was knocked out of the race after the Primary in August.
Next week look for candidate summaries on the races for state legislature and 9th district representative for Congress.
