Nov. 4, 2009
Voters Elected 47 Municipal Court Judges Tuesday
14 Judicial Races Were Contested
In Tuesday’s general election, 47 judges were elected by Ohio voters to serve municipal courts around the state, according to unofficial results.
Only 14 municipal judgeships featured more than one candidate on the ballot. Eleven new faces in nine different courts will take the bench come January because the incumbent either couldn’t run again due to age restrictions, chose not to run again for another term, or lost in the primary or general election.
Five 2009 municipal court judge appointees and two 2008 appointees were on the ballot for the first time.
Staff at the Supreme Court of Ohio assembles the election results from the local county boards of elections for administrative purposes, to communicate with new judges about payroll, benefits and other information.
Three of the 14 contested races saw a challenger defeat an incumbent judge. Winners in those races included:
- Akron Municipal Court – Katarina V. Cook defeated Judge Orlando J. Williams, who was appointed to the seat by Gov. Ted Strickland on Feb. 25.
- Akron Municipal Court – Thomas M. McCarty defeated Judge Stephen A. Fallis, who was appointed to the seat by Gov. Strickland on Feb. 25.
- Carroll County Municipal Court – Gary L. Willen defeated Judge Charles A. Johnston, who appeared on the ballot for a full six-year term after legislation effective in 2007 changed the seat from a part-time judgeship to full time.
The following incumbent judges retained their seats on the bench:
- Akron Municipal Court – Judge Gerald K. Larson, who was appointed to the seat by Gov. Strickland on July 29.
- Cleveland Municipal Court – Judge Michelle D. Earley, who was appointed to the seat by Gov. Strickland on April 6.
- Parma Municipal Court – Judge Timothy P. Gilligan
- Stow Municipal Court – Judge Lisa L. Coates
Other winners in contested races for open seats included:
- Bedford Municipal Court – Harry J. Jacob III
- Elyria Municipal Court – Gary C. Bennett
- Franklin County Municipal Court – Mark A. Hummer
- Portage County Municipal Court – Kevin T. Poland
- Portage County Municipal Court – Mark K. Fankhauser
- Portsmouth Municipal Court – Steven L. Mowery
- Toledo Municipal Court – William M. Connelly Jr.
In addition, Jonathan P. Starn did not face an opponent in the general election for the open seat in Findlay Municipal Court following his victory over three other Republican candidates in the primary.
All judges in Ohio are elected to six-year terms. Elections for municipal court judgeships occur in odd-numbered years, while elections for Supreme Court, appeals court, common pleas court and county court judges occur in even-numbered years.
Access the complete report of judicial election results prepared by Supreme Court staff. The results are not official and are subject to change.
For complete official results, consult the Web site of the Ohio Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/ or contact your local county board of election.
Supreme Court Contacts: Chris Davey or Bret Crow at 614.387.9250.