Magistrate announces bid for seat on common-pleas court

By D.a. Wilkinson

LISBON — Atty. Scott A. Washam has announced that he will run for a Columbiana County Common Pleas Court seat this year.

Washam has been the magistrate of the juvenile and probate division of the court since December of 2007 under county Probate and Juvenile Judge Tom Baronzzi.

Washam has more than 20 years in private practice.

Washam’s juvenile-court work includes conducting and presiding over juvenile traffic cases, detention hearings, cases of alleged delinquent and unruly behavior and cases involving children who are alleged to be abused, neglect or dependent. He also presides over cases involving paternity, establishment and enforcement of child-support cases.

As magistrate, Washam also helps determine the annual cost to Columbiana County for its participation in the Multi-County Juvenile Attention System. He said his efforts contributed to a substantial cost savings of nearly $200,000 for the county in the last two years.

Democrat Common Pleas Court Judge David Tobin is not running again. He has said he plans to resign midyear, and a replacement will be named to fill out his term.

David Johnson, head of the Columbiana County Republican Party, said Washam will be the only GOP candidate seeking the seat.

Generally, political parties name replacements for county officials who resign. However, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland in 2007 created the Ohio Judicial Appointments Recommendations Panel, according to Bret Crow, a spokesman for the Ohio Supreme Court.

The panel submits people who are qualified to fill the vacancy. The governor picks the replacement.

In one recent opening, a candidate was selected in about two months, Crow said.

wilkinson@vindy.com