Kaufman vows to rebuild

SANDUSKY — Longtime local attorney and Sandusky native Michael Kaufman wants to further give back to the community he knows and loves.

He aims to do this by leveraging his extensive legal background to help rebuild the public’s trust in the court system.

This fall, Kaufman is running against Robert Ritzler for the open Sandusky Municipal Court judge position.

Whoever wins this race will replace longtime incumbent Erich O’Brien.

O'Brien is prohibited from running again, as he would be older than 70 at the time of taking office. Ohio judges cannot, by law, start a new term after his/her 70th birthday.

In preparation for the upcoming election, on Nov. 4, the Register reached out to both Kaufman and Ritzler, so they could share information about themselves and their reasons for running.

Registered voters who live in Sandusky, Perkins Township, Bay View and Castalia can cast a ballot in this two-person race.

Whichever candidate receives more votes wins a six-year term beginning Jan. 1.

Here’s what Kaufman said:

Q: What are the main reasons that you want to run for judge?

MK: I have spent my entire life in this community, and I care deeply about it and the people here. This is where I grew up and where I chose to raise my children. Being a public servant in my hometown is a way to give back to the community that has given so much to me. The role of the judiciary is to provide a fair and impartial system to resolve legal disputes and protect individual rights and liberties from being violated by government action by demanding strict adherence to constitutional principles. On a professional level, I have spent the last 28 years working to improve the lives of my clients and those of the citizens of our community.

Q: What is your legal background? How many years have you practiced? What are your specialties?

MK: I graduated from the University of Toledo with my juris doctor degree and began practicing law in Erie County in 1998. I have been practicing law for about 28 years, and I am the principal at the law firm of Kaufman & Kaufman, Co., LPA. My practice consists of general civil litigation; domestic relations; criminal defense; estate planning and probate; land transactions; and municipal representation. I have represented both plaintiffs and defendants in civil litigation and handled thousands of criminal matters as either the prosecutor or defense counsel. I have served as the assistant law director/municipal prosecutor for the city of Sandusky, prosecutor for the village of Kelleys Island, solicitor for the village of Bay View, prosecutor for the city of Huron and special prosecutor for Ottawa County. I have handled thousands of civil cases in the municipal court. I also served as a member of the Erie County board of health where I was the president pro tempore. I have practiced in every court in Erie County and most courts in our adjoining counties. I have also practiced before the Sixth District Court of Appeals, the Ohio Supreme Court and the U.S. Federal Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

Q: Why do you feel you are the best candidate for the judge position?

MK: I believe I am the best candidate because of my professional experience and extensive personal connection to the city of Sandusky, Perkins Township, Bay View and Castalia. I am the only candidate who has served as both a defense attorney and prosecutor. Over the course of my legal career, I have handled thousands of civil cases in the municipal court, including small claims matters, evictions and general civil litigation. In addition to my courtroom experience, I am also the only candidate who has the required administrative experience to serve as the judge of the Sandusky Municipal Court. The judge of the court is charged with the responsibility of overseeing a very large budget as well as the supervision of a significant staff. As the solicitor for the village of Bay View, I have more than 20 years of experience working with government budgets, funding and staffing.

Q: Do you feel that fairness and impartiality are important qualities for judges? And, if elected, would you bring those traits to the court?

MK: As judge, I will ensure that there is equality, fairness, impartiality and integrity in the administration of justice. The court must provide due process and equal protection of law to all who appear before it. To guarantee due process, as judge, I will be blind to race, religion, gender, political affiliation, economic status and sexual orientation while — at the same time — ensuring that established procedure is followed in all cases. Therefore, all court proceedings must take place in open court and must be completely recorded and adequately preserved. I believe jury pools must be representative of the community from which they are pulled.

Q: What else should the community know about you?

MK: As the next judge of Sandusky Municipal Court, I pledge to be a good steward of public funds and facilities, and I will be accountable for the use of those resources. I believe a court must accord respect and dignity to all with whom it comes into contact. I believe a judge has a duty to educate the public by informing (them) of court programs. As judge, I will make sure that accurate reporting is completed and informational literature is available to assist the public in understanding and appreciating the administration of justice and the court programs that are available. That includes helping defendants who do not have valid driver’s licenses to become valid and to assist those who struggle with alcohol and drug dependency issues as well as mental health problems to secure the help they need. The court must be perceived by the public as being fair and accessible not only to those who utilize its services today, but also to those who may utilize its services in the future. By focusing on and working toward these ideas every day, as judge, I hope to improve the public’s confidence in our local judicial system.