Candidate for
Superior Court Judge; Monterey County; Seat 2

I was born and raised in a rural area of upstate New York. My father, a salesman, and my mother, a school teacher, taught me from an early age the value of hard work, commitment to family, service to the community, and dedication to excellence. As the oldest of 14 children, I cared for my siblings and worked hard, starting my first job at age 10 as a paperboy. Before attending college at Fordham University in New York City, I worked in a gas station, in a grocery store, in the fields picking berries, and playing the guitar in a high school band. I learned at a young age the value of putting in a good day's work both at my job and in school. I attended college on a New York State Regents scholastic scholarship. I worked my way through college as a musician and auto detailer.

I met my wife, Judy, while I was in college. We've been married for 38 years and have one son, Jesse, who is an aerospace engineer. Jesse is married to Dana, a school teacher, and they have made us the proud grandparents of two wonderful children, Colin, 6, and Taylor, 9.

Judy's family is from Monterey County, and Judy, Jesse and I moved here 33 years ago, settling in Pacific Grove. During the early years of our marriage, I worked as an investigator and a salesman for a soda company. Judy began her long career as a school teacher with Robert Down School, where she was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award in 2007. Over the years, we both have been involved in many events in our schools and community, volunteering for PG School Clean Up Day, serving on an advisory panel for the Pacific Grove Unified School District and helping out with various school activities.

While working as a maintenance and delivery person for Holman's Department Store in Pacific Grove, I started my legal studies at Monterey College of Law, graduating first in my class in 1979, after receiving numerous scholastic awards. While attending law school, I was a law clerk at the respected Salinas firm of Noland, Hamerly, Etienne and Hoss.

I was admitted to the bar in 1979 and spent a year working on criminal cases as counsel appointed by the Fourth District Court of Appeal. In 1980, I joined the law firm of Paul Pioda, William Bryan, and Robert Ames, where I became a partner in 1982. I've continued to work at this law firm for the last 29 years with many distinguished partners. Some of you may have known of us under the name Pioda, Bryan, Ames, Helfrich, & Wills, and, later, Bryan, Ames, Wills & Benoit. My firm today is known as Wills & Benoit.

Throughout my years in the practice of law, I have handled thousands of criminal and civil cases and managed business aspects of the practice. This has provided me with a depth and breadth of legal and business experience. I have represented people from all walks of life-- small business owners, field workers, police officers, lawyers, trades people, doctors --even the District Attorney's Office and the Public Defender's Office have retained my legal services. I have tried scores of criminal and civil cases. In 2007, the Monterey County Bar Association awarded me the Lewis Fenton Award for Excellence in Advocacy.

In addition to my private legal practice, I have taught business law at Monterey Peninsula College and Trial Advocacy at Stanford University Law School's Advocacy Skills Workshop. For the last ten years, I have received the highest ratings for skill and ethics given in the Martindale-Hubbell legal directory, an international ratings and reference directory for lawyers. I am mentioned in the acknowledgements for the book "Trying Cases to Win" by retired Federal Judge Herbert Stern.

I have been a member of the Monterey County Bar Association for 27 years. Currently, I serve on the Bar's Executive Committee and as editor of its quarterly newsletter, the Barline. I also serve on the Board of Trustees of the Monterey College of Law and am a member of that Board's Executive Committee.

At the request of the Presiding Judge and the Supervising Judge of the Civil Division, I have served as a pro tem judge for two years. A pro tem judge sits in court as a temporary Superior Court Judge handling cases on assignment.

I have been hired many times by attorneys and their clients as an arbitrator or mediator to resolve disputes, and I have also decided disputes pro bono for the Monterey County Bar Association.

I know from experience that we need a strong bench in all aspects of the justice system including the criminal, juvenile, drug, domestic violence, mental health and civil assignments. Judges must have integrity, dedication, independence and broad experience. I can bring that to our bench. We must address the increased violence that affects us all from a variety of perspectives.

My life has taught me that it is important to treat everyone fairly and reasonably, to remain calm and patient. I have a proven ability to think clearly and to research carefully all issues that a case presents. If you elect me, you will get a strong and dedicated judge.