One newcomer among Municipal Court winners
After more than a decade of prosecuting cases in Franklin County Municipal Court, Jarrod B. Skinner won election Tuesday to become the court’s newest judge.
Skinner, a 38-year-old assistant Columbus city attorney, was the only newcomer among four candidates elected to the Municipal Court bench.
“My experience will allow me to make a smooth transition to the bench,” he said. “In the last couple of years, I have helped some new judges with their transition to the job.”
In the other races, Judges Andrea C. Peeples and Cindi Morehart were re-elected and Jodi Thomas won the right to complete the unexpired term to which she was appointed last year.
Thomas’ term will expire on Dec. 31, 2019. The other winners will serve six-year terms beginning in January.
In final, unofficial results, the four races looked like this:
Skinner, a Democrat, received 60 percent of the vote to 40 percent for Glenn P. Willer, a Republican and fellow assistant city attorney. They were competing for an opening created by the retirement of Judge Michael T. Brandt.
Peeples, a Democrat, received 65 percent of the vote to 32 percent for Republican George W. Leach and 4 percent for Edward Lewis Pfau, a Green Party candidate.
Morehart, a Democrat, defeated Republican Sean McCarthy, 59 to 41 percent.
Thomas, a Republican, won 50 percent of the vote to 41 percent for Democrat Morgan Marie Masters and 9 percent for Keith J. Nowak, an independent candidate.
Judicial races are considered nonpartisan in Ohio and party labels don’t appear on the ballot, but political parties endorse and promote candidates.
Thomas, the only Republican winner, attributed her victory to supporters who spread the word about the kind of job she has done since she was appointed to a vacancy on the bench by Gov. John Kasich in April 2016.
“The message got out,” said Thomas, 43, who worked as a public defender in the court for 13 years before her appointment. “Voters didn’t go straight party line.”
Peeples, 48, won a third term, following victories in 2005 and 2011. She collected the most votes among all judicial candidates despite being in a three-way race.
“I am extremely grateful,” she said. “I never take this for granted.”
Morehart, 63, prevailed in a rematch with McCarthy, the candidate she defeated in 2015 to win the remainder of an unexpired term. McCarthy, 48, was appointed to a vacancy on the bench by Gov. Kasich in July 2015 but had to run that fall for a chance to retain the spot.
“I think people realize and appreciate that I’m doing a great job,” Morehart said. “I’m thrilled to death to continue serving the public.”
Municipal Court judges handle traffic and misdemeanor criminal cases as well as civil disputes involving less than $15,000. The job pays $125,850 annually.