Judge Evans postpones retirement, eliminating special election

YOUNGSTOWN

Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court postponed his retirement by a month, just enough time to eliminate a special election for the two-plus years remaining on his term.

Judge Evans moved his retirement from Sept. 1 to Oct. 1, saying Thursday that the timing of his departure has nothing do with a Nov. 4 election for his seat.

He declined to elaborate on his reasoning for postponing his departure one month.

“It’s a very personal thing that I have explained to the [Ohio] Supreme Court,” he said.

However, in a Wednesday letter to Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, obtained by The Vindicator, Judge Evans states the election was a factor in his decision to postpone his retirement.

Delaying his retirement by a month “will allow my successor as appointed by Gov. [John] Kasich to have an extended period of time in office while completing my current term before having to run in the general election,” the judge wrote.

Judge Evans’ original Sept. 1 retirement date was more than 40 days before the Nov. 4 general election, meaning Kasich, a Republican, could appoint an interim replacement for Evans, a Democrat, to serve until the certification of the election.

County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras is unhappy that Judge Evans changed his retirement date.

Read the complete story on the matter in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.