Circuit judge candidates discuss plans, qualifications

All four candidates seeking the Division 2 Garland County circuit judge seat in 2014 spoke at a Republican Party meeting Thursday night at the GOP headquarters.

Circuit Judge Vicki Cook announced last year she would not seek re- election. The non- partisan judicial general election will be held May 20. The Division 2 court mainly sees juvenile cases.

Candidates that have announced for the position already are Michael Crawford, Wade Naramore, Cecilia Dyer and John Howard.

Each of the candidates was given seven minutes to speak to the crowd of about 30 persons.

Crawford, a general practice attorney with Crawford Law Firm, said he is running as the experienced candidate because “this is not a job for on- the- job training.”

“I’m the only candidate who has served and represented people for 30 years in front of every single circuit judge and every single district judge for three decades,” Crawford said. “I have judge experience. I’ve served as a special judge in over two dozen cases in all four circuits and both

the divisions. Judge Cook has asked me to serve as a special judge on over 20 occasions in her court.”

Crawford also said “there is a rumor going around because someone is afraid of this candidacy that … I’m going to fire the staff and I’m going to change all of the juvenile system that Judge Cook put together.”

“It’s not true folks,” Crawford said. “That’s fear. Somebody is afraid of me. Things are going to be built on what Judge Cook did. I expect there will be no major changes.”

Naramore, a deputy prosecuting attorney who handles juvenile prosecutions, said he was running to continue on Cook’s passion and service of helping children and families in need.

“Working with the youth of today and tomorrow is absolutely vital for our community,” Naramore said. “I think it’s very, very important to be familiar with that court and to know the tools you have available and the players in that arena. I’m running to give these children and these families the opportunity they deserve to have a judge who cares about them, who has the experience to help them and who knows how to help them.”

Dyer, a former Hot Springs deputy city attorney and an attorney for the Division of Children and Family Services in the Department of Human Services, said she has dedicated her career to serving children and families.

“This is what I have dedicated by work life to,” Dyer said. “This is where my passion is. For every child that we have a good result for that child or that family, I feel I’ve got the best job on the face of this planet. I want to keep making a difference in all of these precious children’s lives.”

John Howard, a general practice attorney, said he was running because he felt the Division 2 circuit judge position was “the most important job in Garland County.”

“I do hope to streamline the process and handle the juvenile court cases on a particular day and DHS cases on particular days. I’d like to try to reduce paperwork my going electronic where that’s possible. I’d like to continue the good work of Judge Cook in promoting adoption. I intend to continue to promote the Drug Court programs and mentoring programs. I intend to expand the good things that have been done through the CASA program, connections to local churches and other community outreach programs,” he said.