Candidate for
Judge of the Superior Court; Office 2

I have always tried to stand up for the things I believe in. Fundamental to that belief system has been the right of every citizen to a fair and dignified day in court. When I saw that principle stumbling regularly in the courtroom of my opponent, I genuinely felt I had to do something about it. I knew that I wasn't alone, but when my candidacy became public knowledge, the general dissatisfaction reverberated loudly.

I have been an advocate who believes deeply in our Constitution. My ability to leave the "advocate" role and to cross over into the zone of impartiality which is essential to the Judge's sphere is based on my fundamental conviction and loyalty to the constitution itself and the quintessential need for balance and fairness in following the law. That is what I have been attempting to acheive as a trial lawyer. My desire to cross the line from the extreme partisanship that advocacy demands to the evenhanded dispensation of justice from the bench stems from a shared belief that the particular judge whose seat I seek has failed to live up to those ideals.

We have elections to determine which among us is best suited to be a judge. The judgment of the voters in this premise is essential. If we, as a community can improve our bench by changing judges, we should do so.

The judicial race is a nonpartisan race as well it should be. When an individual walks into any courtroom; be they the victim, litigant, accused, juror, or advocate, party affiliation is irrelevant. The only test for the voters of whatever political stripe in a nonpartisan judicial race is the competence, fairness and qualification of the candidate. My candidacy is to let the voters know that there is a problem in our local judiciary and that justice will be better served in Sonoma County by correcting the problem.

My opponent was elected in 1994 as a municipal court judge. she was elected to make decisions in people's lives where financial disputes did not exceed $15,000.00 and possible incarceration did not exceed one year. In 1998, the California courts consolidated and my opponent became a Superior Court Judge with the stroke of a pen. She now has jurisdiction to make financial decisions without a limit and to preside over capital cases. She was not elected by you, Sonoma County to do so, and I and many others do not believe she has acquired the experience during her term to enable her to meet the judicial challenges of a Superior Court judge.

I can make only one promise to each of you and that is this: Should you, a family member, a friend, a neighbor have to walk through the doors of my courtroom, you and they, will be treated with dignity and decency. I will not scream at you, insult you or demean you. You will be treated in a courteous and even-handed manner. I will maintain a judicial temperament that demonstrates fairness. You will know that your due process will be served.

I have put aside my career and my income to take a leave of absence to run this race. I have committed substantial family resources to the effort. There is a problem with Sonoma County Office #2 which needs to be corrected for the benefit of all of us. My election wil do just that. My election will Improve the Bench!