Court administrator Samantha Johnson said the court petitioned the state Legislature in 2004 to add the judgeship, which was approved. The seat is open for election for the first time this November.
Ms. Johnson said two local attorneys, Greg Chelak and Steve Guccini, are on both Republican and Democratic ballots in the May 15 primary election seeking nominations to appear on the November ballot.
Yolanda Goldsac, county Bureau of Elections director, said judge candidates are permitted to cross-file on both parties’ ballots because a judge "is considered a nonpolitical position."
With Pike County the fastest-growing county in the state, Ms. Johnson said, "we’ve reached the point now in our population and our caseload" where another judge is necessary.
"We definitely see a need for the position, given the increase in caseload in both adult and juvenile cases," said Ray Tonkin, county first assistant district attorney.
In 2000, the district attorney’s office handled 473 adult cases and 115 juvenile cases, compared to 667 adult cases and 164 juvenile cases in 2006, Mr. Tonkin said.
This is cache, read story here
