Kaufman Wins Municipal Court Judge Race

Voters commit to Kaufman

SANDUSKY — After months of campaigning, longtime local attorney Michael Kaufman discovered the fate of his bid to become Sandusky's next municipal court judge.

By nearly a 3-to-2 margin, voters on Tuesday sided with Kaufman to serve behind the bench, according to unofficial results from the Erie County Board of Elections.

Kaufman vanquished his lone opponent, Robert Ritzler, a longtime local public defender for Erie County.

His six-year term begins Jan. 1.

Both candidates battled one another for a seat long occupied by incumbent Judge Erich O'Brien. O'Brien was 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.

Kaufman, a Sandusky native, said he plans to use his extensive law background to help rebuild the public’s trust in the court system.

"I have spent my entire life in this community, and I care deeply about it and the people here," Kaufman said. "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."

Kaufman stressed how his role as a judge "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."

Sandusky Municipal Court (1 wins)

• Michael D. Kaufman: 4,204

• Robert Ritzler: 2,879

Note: According to unofficial results

Source: Erie County Board of Elections