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Nine Kern residents to vie for two open judges' seats
| Monday, Feb 11 2008 10:05 PM
Last Updated: Monday, Feb 11 2008 10:10 PM
Kern County Elections Chief Sandy Brockman said she's never witnessed anything like it in her 24 years with the department.
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Photos:
Frank Butkiewicz is pictured in this August 2007 file photo.
Tony Heider is pictured in this November 2006 file photo.
Michael Gardina is pictured in this August 2005 file photo.
Olaf Landsgaard is pictured in this 2002 file photo.
Larry Errea pictured in late 2007.
"I've never seen this many people vying for one seat," she said. "Even when it's an open seat, I've never seen this kind of interest."
Nine Kern County residents have declared their intention to run as candidates for two open judgeships in Kern County Superior Court, according to the elections department. The deadline for non-incumbents to declare was 5 p.m. Monday.
Six of the aspiring judges are vying for the position held for the past quarter-century by Judge Clarence Westra Jr.
Three others have declared their intention to run for the seat held since 1982 by Judge H.A. "Skip" Staley.
Neither Westra nor Staley have stated their intention to run for re-election. The deadline for incumbents to file was Wednesday.
The six vying for Westra's position are:
* Matt Brady
* Charles "Chip" Brehmer
* Frank Butkiewicz
* Michael R. Gardina
* Tony Heider
* Holly N. Mitchell
The three intending to run for Staley's seat are:
* Ronald Carter
* Larry Errea
* Olaf Landsgaard
Only Errea, a Superior Court commissioner, had declared his intention to run for Staley's seat by Friday, but Carter and Landsgaard beat Monday's deadline.
Brady and Heider, Kern County's chief assistant public defender, also filed Monday.
Open judgeships typically draw some interest, but not like this, said Carolyn Sandlin, an office services specialist with county elections.
"Usually no one runs against an incumbent," she said. Two stories in The Californian last week may have sparked additional interest among area attorneys, elections staffers said.
Judges serve six-year terms and are paid $171,648 a year.
The election is scheduled for June 3.