If there’s one statement all the new Circuit Court judge candidates would agree on, it would be that there are just not enough media outlets for them to make their cases before voters.
The new 48th Circuit judgeship was granted by the State of Michigan, increasing the number from two to three. The current incumbents are Marge Bakker and Matt Antkoviak and three women, Elizabeth Peterson, Alice Bernal and Emily Jipp will battle for the new post.
The problem is that none of the three is well known by Allegan County voters going into the Aug. 6 primary election. So all of them musty rely on advertising by signs, the very few remaining print newspapers in the county, or by taking part in the time honored, but poorly attended municipal meetings.
There are 24 township boards that have met and greeted the candidates at their meetings over the past year, but not much more than a handful of village councils and city councils. Then there is the difficult task or trying to determine the differences between these three political novices.
If there actually is a favorite in this race, it is Elizabeth Peterson, mostly because of geography. She has been an assistant prosecuting attorney in Allegan and is perhaps well known by county officials and anyone who does business in court. She already has secured an endorsement from Circuit Judge Marge Bakker.
Bernal acknowledged she lacks experience in criminal law, but insists most Circuit Court cases are family and civil matters.
In a stroke argument genius, the “outsider,” Emily Jipp of Saugatuck last Thursday night heaped lavish praise on Bernal’s community activism, but maintained the new Circuit Court opening will handle criminal cases as the majority.
It may not matter a whole lot. In my experience, the candidate who wins is someone who is backed by the establishment. In this case, that’s Allegan County.
On another note: It is fascinating that as few as 40 to 50 years ago we would be hard pressed to see the names of female candidates on the judicial ballot. Today, I submit they’re in the majority.