Election Preview: Willoughby Municipal Court judge

There will be a new judge behind the bench in Willoughby Municipal Court come January 2018.

Incumbent Judge Harry Field is unable to seek reelection because of age limits.

The first step in finding his successor begins May 2 with two contested partisan primaries.

On the Republican side, Marisa L. Cornachio is facing Geoffrey W. Weaver. On the Democratic side, Laura A. DePledge is facing Michael P. Germano.

The winners of their respective primaries will face off in the General Election Nov. 7. The winner of the General Election will serve a six-year term as Willoughby Municipal Court judge.

Willoughby Municipal Court serves the communities of Eastlake, Kirtland, Kirtland Hills, Lakeline, Timberlake, Waite Hill, Wickliffe, Willoughby, Willoughby Hills and Willowick.

The court also has jurisdiction over Lakeland Community College, the Cleveland and Lake Metroparks located within its jurisdiction, the Eastlake Port Authority, and 10 other state and county agencies.

Municipal judges hear cases involving state and city law violations as well as misdemeanor crimes.

There are 9,588 registered Democratic voters and 16,017 registered Republican voters in the Willoughby Municipal Court district, according to the Lake County Elections Board.

Republican primary Cornachio

Cornachio, 38, of Willoughby, is seeking elected office for the first time. She is an attorney at CornachioLaw LLC and serves as a special prosecutor for the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office.

As a judge, she said she wants to address the “protection of our community.” As a prosecutor, wife and mother of three who was born and raised in Willoughby, she said there is no one more motivated to keep the community safe. She said she will work with local law enforcement and community leaders to ensure safety is a top priority.

She also wants to address the opioid epidemic. She said she will consider a drug division of the court and an intensive probation program specifically design to assist individuals fighting opiate addiction. She said this public health emergency must be addressed at the municipal level.

Cornachio said she also wants to address technology and operation improvements. She said she wants to establish an e-filing system, update existing technology and assess current court operation, all of which would be directed at improving public access to the court.

“This court has operated the same way for over 30 years,” Cornachio said. “I will bring new ideas and a fresh perspective in an effort to effect change. I am committed to a fair and balanced approach to justice for the benefit of all people in our community and those served by this court.”

Weaver

Weaver, 52, of Kirtland, is an attorney at the Weaver Law Firm. He has been a practicing attorney in Lake County since 1991 and is a former Lake County assistant prosecutor. He also has served as an adjunct law professor at the ClevelandMarshall College of Law and as an instructor at Lakeland Community College.

The three areas Weaver would like to focus on if elected judge are all related to the budget.

He said the probation department needs an additional probation officer because of the very heavy caseload of the court, over 20,000 per year.

Weaver also said he would attempt to lower or at least contain court costs.

He also wants to establish a drug court similar to that of Mentor Municipal Court to address the opioid epidemic.

“Accomplishing these goals will entail an in-depth analysis of the court’s budget and negotiating with the various funding sources for the court,” Weaver said. “The court’s funding mechanism is complicated and will require agreement with state and local governments.”

Democratic primary DePledge

DePledge, 53, of Eastlake, is an acting judge and part-time magistrate in Willoughby Municipal Court. She is also an attorney at DePledge Law Office and serves as president of Eastlake City Council.

If elected judge, DePledge said she wants to focus on docket management to ensure the court, the public’s and the attorney’s time is used as efficiently as possible.

She said she wants explore the court’s role in addressing the opioid epidemic through incarceration, rehabilitation and education.

As an elected official serving on Eastlake City Council, DePledge said she recognizes the importance of the court’s role in the community it serves.

“I am the only candidate with six years of experience as acting judge and parttime magistrate at the Willoughby Municipal Court, having previously been appointed by Judge Allen,” she said. Germano Germano, 56, of Willoughby Hills, is an attorney for Wiles & Richards and serves as a prosecutor for Willoughby Hills. He served three terms on Willoughby Hills City Council, including as president from 2004-2005.

If elected judge, Germano said he wants to seek out grants to develop and/ or implement an e-filing system, improve the court’s online docketing system and further develop the court’s website with emphasis on simplifying and providing helpful information regarding court procedure. He also wants to research and implement a traffic court docket in the evenings to accommodate those who work or who are unable to be present during the daytime court traffic docket.

He also wants to address the “very dangerous and critical drug issue” facing the community. Germano wants to advance collaboration among other courts, community agencies and treatment programs, allowing defendants who need and would respond well to treatment to utilize existing resources and effectively punishing and deterring drug offenders who do not. Also as a part of that effort, he wants to strengthen the court’s probation department, giving the court greater ability to enforce treatment sanctions and ultimately reduce recidivism.

Germano said the legal system can often be confusing and frustrating for those who are not specialized or experienced in the law. He said he wants to improve the pace of the civil and criminal docket and work with the Ohio Supreme Court on how the municipal court system can be improved in order to minimize the time a party spends waiting for their case to be heard and obtaining final judgment.

“I believe my dedication to this community, my proven experience, my commitment to each case I have

prosecuted, and each and every person I have represented have given me the skills and experience necessary to be your Willoughby Municipal Court judge,” he said.

Weaver, Cornachio, Germano, DePledge