8/1/2008 11:00:00 AM Judicial race to be decided in primary
Vickie Churchill.
Craig Platt.
MEET THE CANDIDATES
Craig Platt
Age: 50
Education: BS in psychology from University of Illinois; Law degree from Stanford University.
Professional: 26 years practicing law: 20 years in defense, two years in prosecution and four years in civil law.
Personal: Married 20 years; two children
Time on Whidbey: 18 years
Affiliations: Washington Defender Association board of director since 1991, current president, and volunteer in Coupeville schools. Vickie Churchill
Age: 61
Education: BA in journalism, University of Missouri; Law degree from Seattle University School of Law.
Professional: 12 years as Island County Superior Court judge; 10 years as Oak Harbor general practice attorney
Personal: Married 25 years; four children
Time on Whidbey: 36 years
Affiliations: 2007 Superior Court Judge Association president, current co-chair of Board of Judicial Administration for Washington.
By Justin Burnett Examiner Staff Writer
By Aug. 20, the race for Island County Superior Court Judge Pos. 2 will have been decided.
Unlike other electoral races in Washington, in judicial contests the top-two primary system sends just one candidate on to the November general election. The candidate who receives more than 50 percent of the vote continues on, while the other is out.
In Island County, the two candidates vying for the seat are Coupeville defense attorney Craig Platt and incumbent Vickie Churchill.
The annual pay for superior court judges in Washington is $148,832 per year. The position is a four-year term.
Platt, a partner at the Coupeville law firm Platt and Buescher and Associates, is making his first run for office. After 26 years of practicing law, he decided to run because he said his experience, which ranges from civil work to criminal prosecution and defense, makes him well qualified for the job.
"I think I can bring a lot of improvements and change," Platt said.
If elected, he hopes to make the courthouse a more comfortable and friendlier place. Courtroom experiences are stressful enough, he said, without making it worse for people who have to deal with crowding or slow service.
"We shouldn't add to that," Platt said. "We should try to ease that burden, and that's my goal."
Other plans include using new technology for the electronic transfer of court documents, improving courthouse security, getting a teen court up and running, and supporting public outreach and making use of community volunteers.
Platt also said he is committed to being a peoples' judge; the kind of guy who will walk through the front door and will always be available to the public.
"You need to be of the people, not above the people," Platt said. "You're there to serve them; they're not there to serve you."
Platt said his extensive law and trial experience make him the best candidate for the job. He is committed to running a clean campaign, and refused to criticize his opponent in any way.
Churchill, a superior court judge in Island County for the past 12 years, is running for a fourth term. During her tenure, she helped establish the Juvenile Detention Center and the juvenile, adult and family drug courts, along with helping to start community accountability boards.
If elected to another term, Churchill said she would like to make improvements to courthouse safety, introduce new technology to improve courthouse efficiency and start a teen court.
Churchill believes her background and experience as a judge and general-practice attorney make her the best fit for the position, especially considering the most common kinds of cases going through the court.
"The major things we're doing are in the civil and family arena," Churchill said. "I understand that Mr. Platt has that experience as well, as far as criminal, but the other areas are very lacking as far as I'm concerned."
When asked why voters should vote for her rather than Platt, she responded by saying, "Demeanor. Absolutely. I listen to people. I don't talk over them. I'm courteous to them, I'm professional, and I expect that in my courtroom."
Two years ago, the Island County Board of Commissioners declined to renew Platt's contract to provide public defender service, a contract his firm had held for 16 years. At the time, some people had become concerned that Platt's courtroom relationship with then-deputy prosecuting attorney Steve Selby had become openly adversarial.
Bill Byrd, who was a county commissioner when the board decided not to renew Platt's contract, said no formal complaint had been made about Platt's behavior. But he said he and the other commissioners were aware that Churchill and fellow Superior Court Judge Alan Hancock were both unhappy with Platt, and that Platt's behavior was considered controversial.
"He can get in you face, and he has a temper," Byrd said.
Neither Churchill nor Hancock, who is serving as Churchill's honorary campaign chair, would comment about Platt.
Byrd said the primary reason that Platt lost the public defender contract is that he wasn't the lowest bidder. It was awarded to Thomas Pacher, a Coupeville attorney. Byrd described Platt as a competent attorney who was always prepared when his cases went to court.
Churchill said she had never complained about Platt, but that it appeared the loss of the contract left him upset.
"Even though he said two years ago he would run against me because he lost the public defender contract, I thought maybe he would calm down," she said.
Platt said he doesn't want to get into a mudslinging contest, but he did respond to the comments about his courtroom behavior. It comes down to different roles for different jobs, he said.
"There is no doubt I'm an aggressive, hard-working trial attorney," Platt said. "That's what I'm supposed to be."
He said his courtroom demeanor is that of a defense attorney. As a judge, his role would be different, and so would his demeanor. He also addressed rumors that he may be running for the position based on a grudge against Churchill.
"It's ridiculous," he said.
However, he confirmed that the loss of the public defender contract is one of the reasons he decided to run for the judge position. He said he had wanted to run for office for a number of years, but decided to hold off because he would have had to break his contract with the county.
"I was released from my obligation, which gave me the freedom to run for judge," Platt said. "I just think I could do a world of good up there. There is no vendetta about it."
The primary election will decide which candidate will proceed to the November general election. While state law allows write-in candidates to file for the judicial election, candidates eliminated in the primary are excluded from write-in status.
The primary election will decide which candidate will proceed to the November general election. While state law allows write-in candidates to file for the judicial election, candidates eliminated in the primary are excluded from write-in status.
