11TH DISTRICT Four vie for seat on appeals court

The primary's winners will face each other in November's general election.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Two Democrats and two Republicans are running in the March primary election for the six-year term on the 11th District Court of Appeals.
The Republicans are Colleen M. O'Toole of Concord and Paul Brickner of Willoughby; Mary Jane Trapp of Russell Township and Raymond J. Tisone of Howland are the Democrats.
Winners in the primary will face each other in the November general election.
Trapp, president of the Ohio State Bar Association, says she believes the main issues in the race are to assure fair and equal access to justice and to also promote the use of technology to reduce costs and to speed the administration of justice.
One view
Tisone, however, believes the major issue is to make sure whoever is elected has a solid background in the law.
"The court of appeals is a court of last resort for most people," Tisone said. "It is not a place for ideologues. It is a place for people who will take a straightforward, intellectually honest view of the case. Their job is to get it right, correct the mistakes, if any, and do it timely."
Brickner notes that he believes pervious judicial experience is a major issue. Brickner is the only candidate of the four who has been a judge. He served as a U.S. Administrative Law Judge from 1981 until Dec. 29, 2003. He retired in order to seek election to the appeals court.
"The responsibilities of an appellate judge involve a great deal of research and writing," Brickner said. "It is a bookish job and I am a bookish person."
O'Toole, however, says she believes communication is the major issue. She also believes that it is important for people to be able to access the court with the help of the Internet and electronic filing.
sinkovich@vindy.com