Benyak letter to voters

By Alan Benyak

ALAN BENYAK'S LETTER TO VOTERS

The stories are heartbreaking. Across the country, thousands of our military veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are struggling to return to civilian life and often they don't succeed. My client Jason was one those veterans. Jason served honorably as a Navy Corpsman aiding injured comrades in battle and recovering the remains of those who were killed, including one of his closest friends. The experience left him a shell of his former self, unable to properly adjust to life back home.

Jason died of an accidental overdose while I was fighting for him to receive Social Security and Veterans' Benefits. Other veterans in Washington County are ending up homeless, facing addictions, plagued by mental health issues and struggling to access community supports and services. Many of these men and women find themselves in a place they never imagined: the criminal justice system. More often than not their problems can be tied directly to their military service.

Washington County had the foresight to create a Veterans' Court to handle these cases that are beginning to overburden our justice system; it was a visionary idea. Unfortunately, none of our Judges or prosecutors is a veteran. That's one of the main reasons I'm running for Judge. Veteran's Court would be better served by a judge with a military background who has experience with the issues and hardships faced by our service members and their families.

As a former Army Major, JAG Officer and lawyer with an active local practice, I will bring my years of military legal expertise along with my many years of private practice experience to the Court of Common Pleas for all Washington County residents.

I have handled countless civil and criminal cases as a federal prosecutor, military lawyer and private practitioner. As a sole practitioner, my clients include seniors, working families and small business owners who need help with legal issues that encompass estate planning, family law, civil litigation and municipal law.

As a Judge I will treat everyone appearing in front of me with the respect and dignity, and I will bring common sense and a strong work ethic to the court. I am sincerely asking for your vote and the votes of your family members in the May 21st Primary Election.

Very truly yours,

Alan Benyak
Veteran for Judge
http://www.benyakforjudge.com