Governor appoints Mark Belinky to Mahoning County probate bench
A challenger has already thrown his hat into the race.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN — Gov. Ted Strickland has chosen longtime probate lawyer Mark A. Belinky of Boardman to fill the unexpired term of Mahoning County Probate Court judge Timothy P. Maloney.
Judge Maloney, who has served as probate court judge for 101⁄2 years, announced his retirement in June.
Belinky, 55, of Boardman, has 29 years of experience as a probate lawyer and has practiced law for 30 years overall. Belinky says his experience with the court allows him to know the “ins and outs” of the job, and his service as an advocate for clients over that time gives him the needed compassion.
“If people have a need, I help them out,” he said. “I don’t worry so much about the fees.”
Probate court is not like most other courts, where an adversarial relationship is expected, Belinky said. In probate court, cases focus on issues such as settling the estate of someone who has recently died, for instance, or establishing a guardianship for a child who is handicapped or mentally ill.
“I think you need compassion,” he said, adding that this is probably his greatest asset.
In announcing Belinky’s selection, Strickland said, “Mark has spent his career in the probate courts of the Mahoning Valley, and Mark will bring that high level of expertise and respect as he serves the people of Mahoning County on the bench.”
The governor noted that Belinky has provided free legal services to clients of the Mahoning County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities for nearly 20 years.
The first-time public officeholder will begin work Dec. 4 and will hold the office only a short time before having to run for the position at an election, but he said he’s not concerned. He will be on the ballot for the March 4 Democratic primary. His appointment is good only through Feb. 9, 2009.
“I’m confident that my appointment will be viewed favorably by the public,” Belinky said.
Judge Scott D. Hunter of the Mahoning County Court didn’t waste any time announcing his candidacy for the probate court position Monday, the same day the governor appointed Belinky.
Judge Hunter will run in the Republican primary for the position.
“He’s going to be a formidable candidate,” said Mark Munroe, Mahoning County Republican Party vice chairman, about Judge Hunter. “The probate court needs new leadership, and he’ll provide it.”
Hunter, 44, has served as a county court judge since July 1999 and is a former Canfield mayor and councilman.
The Ohio Judicial Appointments Recommendation Panel narrowed down the search from the six lawyers who applied for the position in October to three: Belinky, former Youngstown Police Chief Robert Bush and Struthers Municipal Court Judge James Lanzo.
In a résumé Belinky submitted to the recommendation panel, Belinky said he has devoted 90 percent of his practice for the past 10 years to probate and estate planning with the remainder being corporate, real estate and miscellaneous matters.
“I presently am involved in 250 cases in the Mahoning County Probate Court,” Belinky wrote.
Belinky said he will change a few things about the way the court is operated to make it more “user friendly.” Said Belinky: “In general, everyone brings their own approach. My approach will probably be different from the judge before me and probably the judge after me, but I’m confident the public will be pleased.”
Belinky is the second person selected by Strickland to fill a judicial vacancy in Mahoning County. He selected Tim Franken of Beaver Township in September to replace Maureen Cronin as judge on the court of common pleas.
runyan@vindy.com