Court of Common Pleas – May 2015
Facts: *You will be
voting for 2 candidates this
election year.
*Court of Common Pleas has 11
members that work for Erie County.
*A Common
Please Judge serves a 10 Year Term with an annual pay of $178,111.
*Candidates
for the Court of Common Pleas can cross file on both ballots.
Current Judges:
Shad Connelly (retiring), Ernest DiSantis Jr. (retiring), John Bozza, Daniel
Brabender Jr., William Cunningham, Stephanie Domitrovich, Michael Dunlavey,
John Garhart, Elizabeth Kelly, Robert Sambroak Jr., and John Trucilla.
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Damon Hopkins
Website: www.hopkinsforjudge.com
Hometown: Millcreek Township
Current Job: Private practice since 2004 – focusing on family law and criminal cases
Pro-Life? Yes. He replied to the People for Life survey.
Pro-2nd Amendment? Yes. I spoke with Damon personally on the phone and he
very courteously outlined his 2nd Amendment beliefs.
Comments: I like the fact that he was born and raised in Erie, PA. His website is the most informative. His campaign speech and Issues section on his website is excellent. You should check it out. He answered the PA Family Institute Survey.
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Website: www.joewalshforjudge.com
Hometown:
Current Job: Practicing law at Shapira, Hutzelman, Smith & Walsh (since 1986)
Pro-Life? Yes. He replied to the People for Life survey.
Pro-2nd
Amendment? Unknown. I tried to
contact him for his stance on his website’s Contact page but the Contact form
failed and wouldn’t go through.
Comments: Joe is the only candidate who is a veteran (4 years in Navy). It might be of interest that he is endorsed by Robert Brabender – an Erie lawyer and brother of Judge Daniel Brabender. The reference from the local farmer on his page is encouraging. He has a lot of experience and he is one of the candidates born and raised in Erie County. He answered the PA Family Institute Survey.
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More Candidates Below...
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Ed Smith
Website: www.edsmithforjudge.com
Hometown: ??
Current Job: Partner at Shapira,
Hutzelman, Berlin, Ely, Smith & Walsh
Pro-Life? Yes. He replied to
the People for Life survey.
Pro-2nd Amendment? Unknown.
He is not endorsed by Firearms Owners Against Crime.
Comments: I really like his reply letter to the
PA Family Institute. However, his website is not very informative.
Elvage Murphy
Website: elvagemurphyforjudge.com
Hometown: ??
Current Job: Private
Practice since 2002 and Professor in the Political Science department at
Edinboro University since 2002
Pro-Life? Unknown. No
response to the People for Life survey but he did speak with People for Life
and expressed general pro-life sentiments.
Pro-2nd Amendment? Unknown. Not endorsed by Firearms
Owners Against Crime.
Comments: His website was disjointed and hard to
read. He did reply to a few of the questions on the PA Family Survey.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Website: www.jamiemead4judge.com
Hometown: Fairview, PA
Current Job: Lawyer at the Mead Law Firm which specializes
in criminal defense as well as civil and municipal legal representation.
Pro-Life? Unknown. He didn’t answer the People
for Life survey.
Pro-2nd
Amendment? Yes. Endorsed by Firearms
Owners Against Crime.
Comments: He is a board member and shareholder of the
Times Publishing Company – which publishes Erie Times News. Jamie also had a
summary disorderly conduct plea and a DUI charge more than 10 years ago. He
openly discusses how he addressed those problems in the ETN May 3rd
article. He did answer some of the questions on the PA Family Institute Survey.
**
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Chad Vilushis
Website: www.chadvilushisforjudge.com
Hometown: Fairview,
PA
Current Job:
Associate with the Travis Law firm since 2005 – concentrating his
practice in the areas of DUI and criminal defense.
Pro-Life? Unknown. No response to the People for Life survey.
Pro-2nd Amendment? Unknown. Not endorsed by Firearms
Owners Against Crime.
Comments: The emphasized endorsements
on his website and mail flyers are interesting. He began his career as a law
clerk for Judge Ernest DiSantis. He did not reply to the PA Family Institute
Survey.
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Erin Connelly
Website: no website but there is a Facebook page
Hometown: ??
Current Job: Erie County Assistant District Attorney for past
12 years
Pro-Life? Unknown. No response to the People for
Life survey.
Pro-2nd
Amendment? Unknown. Not endorsed by
Firearms Owners Against Crime.
Comments: I won’t vote for a
candidate who doesn’t provide a website or at least some information on a
Facebook page. I would like to point out that her father is a judge (about to
retire) on the Court of Common Pleas. She did not reply to the PA Family
Institute Survey.
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MY PICKS: Damon Hopkins and Joe Walsh
Summary:
I
based my final decision on who was the most transparent and who would be
toughest on crime and gun violence. I want someone who will have integrity and look
out for our kids and our families.
As
always, I encourage you to do your own research and make your own decisions.
Sources:
Candidate’s
Websites and/or Facebook Page / Candidate’s Mailed Flyers
People
for Life survey / Firearms Owners Against Crime / www.pafamily.org
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