43
5 Democrats seek to replace Judge Bernard in Girard city court
Photo
Rebecca Gerson
Photo
Marty Hume
By LINDA M. LINONIS
GIRARD
Judge Michael Bernard is leaving the bench in Girard Municipal Court at the end of the year.
The race is on among five Democratic candidates campaigning to fill the position. The winner of the May 3 primary would run in the fall general election. There is no Republican running; an independent candidate has until May 2 to file to run. The annual salary for the six-year term is $115,600.
Jeffrey Adler, a lawyer for 20 years, said he decided to run because he wanted to move forward in his law career and serve the public.
He said that a priority for the judge must be a good working relationship with Girard administration, and the court must look at alternative funding sources to lessen the burden on the city, which pays about 95 percent of the court’s budget.
Adler suggested an alternative sentencing program to help produce revenue and a self-funded probation department. He has raised $35,000 and is using $13,000 of his own money for the campaign.
Mark Finamore has served as magistrate in the court for nearly 24 years, and said he has experience dealing with criminal, traffic and civil cases. He handles about 100 cases every Tuesday.
A lawyer for 28 years, he was appointed by Judge Bernard. Finamore said he has had only three rulings reversed by Judge Bernard, who must approve his rulings.
Finamore said the court should break even financially. He also suggested alternative sentencing, substance-abuse counseling, mental health treatment, community service and rehabilitative services for nonviolent, nonrepeat offenders.
For his campaign, Finamore said he would spend $55,000 to $60,000, with $34,000 of his own money.
Rebecca Gerson was appointed acting judge by Judge Bernard and received additional training from the Supreme Court of Ohio. Serving as an acting judge, Gerson said she has “seen firsthand the types of cases and ever increasing workload” of the court. With that in mind, she said it was important to “do more with less.”
Gerson said she would pursue grants to help defray the cost of the court to the city. She said there are grants for programs on domestic-violence issues, crimes against the elderly and court security.
Gerson said she believes court personnel, who serve the public, must be well-versed in ethics and conflict-of-interest issues. She did say in one instance that she “didn’t think a magistrate was necessary,” then said, if elected, she would “evaluate” court personnel.
Gerson said her experience running a law firm, in various levels of the court systems and her desire to help people are assets. She plans to spend $25,000 on the campaign, she said.
Martin Hume, a lawyer for 30 years and Mahoning County assistant prosecutor for 14 years, said he has been honored as an Ohio Super Lawyer four times. Hume said he counts on his legal skills for his clients, not making deals.
“I’m not beholden to anyone,” he said.
He cited his expertise of trying more than 500 cases and serving as lead counsel in 80 reported cases as one of the qualifications for judge. He has been a prosecutor and defense attorney.
He emphasized the use of technology, noting he would seek to implement electronic filing of pleadings.
Hume noted that he has run his own law firm for 25 years and understands the “importance of minimizing costs and maximizing revenue.” He said he would evaluate the magistrate position and make sure staff were all highly qualified. Hume declined to specify at this time how much he would spend on the campaign.
Harry DiPietro, a lawyer since 1989, said he is running “because the court has a need for a competent, well-qualified judge.” He said his caseload experience ranges from mayor’s court to the Ohio Supreme Court. “Girard Municipal Court is a mess,” he said, adding that he believes the court has gone out of its jurisdiction with some cases.
DiPietro said his top priority is “to enforce the rules.” He said that would “level the playing field” and allow for due process.
THE CANDIDATES
Democrats
Jeffery Adler
Age: 47
Home: 7359 Oakcrest Drive, Hubbard.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science from Youngstown State University; juris doctorate from Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettite College of Law; U.S. Army Military Police School; Liberty High School graduate.
Employment: Trumbull County prosecutor, Hubbard law director and self-employed attorney.
Family: Wife, Tina, and two children.
Priority: Working with the administration of the city of Girard in producing a budget for the court that is fair to the city while enabling the court to operate efficiently, and finding alternative funding sources for the court.
Mark Finamore
Age: 54
Home: 589 Sodom Hutchings Road, Vienna Township.
Education: Juris doctorate from University of Akron School of Law; studied for master’s of business administration at Youngstown State University Student but left to pursue law degree; bachelor’s in political science, graduating magna cum laude from YSU; studied at Miami University; Ohio Attorney General’s office, Ohio Police Officer’s Training Academy.
Employment: Part-time magistrate, Girard Municipal Court; private law practice; legal counsel for 40-plus townships in Northeast Ohio; law director of Home Rule Township, Trumbull County; home rule legal counsel to Boardman Township; Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office commissioned deputy sheriff; Finamore Photography.
Family: Fiancée, Rhonda Fonce; three stepchildren.
Priority: Fiscal responsibility to operate an efficient court, implementing appropriate costs and fees for revenue, proper management and cooperative purchasing, and use of available grants.
Rebecca Gerson
Age: 43
Home: 3671 Staunton Drive, Liberty.
Education: Case Western Reserve University School of Law juris doctorate; bachelor’s in American studies, Youngstown State University; Liberty High School graduate; licenses and certificates, U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. tax court, U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Supreme Court of Ohio; certified instructor, Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy.
Employment: acting judge by appointment and acting magistrate by appointment, Girard Municipal Court; Ohio Peace Officer’s Training Academy; part-time instructor, Youngstown State University; and self-employed lawyer.
Family: no information given.
Priority: Operate the court efficiently and in a fiscally conservative manner; explore grant opportunities.
Marty Hume
Age: 54
Home: 1169 Academy Drive, Liberty.
Education: Ohio State University College of Law, juris doctorate; bachelor in social studies, cum laude, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.
Employment: Mahoning County assistant prosecutor and self-employed lawyer.
Family: Wife, Kim; two sons.
Priority: Ensure respect for the law and the legal system. Respect for people of diverse backgrounds has been a hallmark his career. The fair treatment of all people with respect and dignity, including the just imposition of criminal sanctions to deter future misconduct.
Harry Depietro
Did not respond to the Vindicator candidate questionnaire on which this listing is based.