{ title: 'The Times of Northport & East Northport. (Setauket, N.Y.) 2005-current, November 03, 2005, Page 11, Image 11', download_links: [ { link: 'http://www.loc.gov/rss/ndnp/ndnp.xml', label: 'application/rss+xml', meta: 'News about NYS Historic Newspapers - RSS Feed', }, { link: '/lccn/2008245210/2005-11-03/ed-1/seq-11/png/', label: 'image/png', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/2008245210/2005-11-03/ed-1/seq-11.pdf', label: 'application/pdf', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/2008245210/2005-11-03/ed-1/seq-11/ocr.xml', label: 'application/xml', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/2008245210/2005-11-03/ed-1/seq-11/ocr.txt', label: 'text/plain', meta: '', }, ] }
Image provided by: Suffolk Cooperative Library System
u 0. BY PETER C. MASTROSIMCGNE Judicial candidates generally refrain from addressing the substance of issues that may come before them so they can be seen as judging cases fairly, without pre- cunceived nouons, and Tuesday's Meet the Candidates forum in Muller Place was no exception. But none of the four hopefuls seeking 10-year terms as Family Court judges - Republican imcumbent Judge Greg Blass, Repubhcan District Court Judge Gerard Asher. Democrane Huntington Town Councilwoman - Marlene Budd and Democratic East Setauket attorney Martha Luft - had to decline to answer a question, because they weren't asked any. The crowd instead focused en the town and county candidates and one state offi- cial, who were up on the stage with them. For the roughly two hours between their opening and closing statements. the judicial candidates said not a word. When they did speak, they told the audience about their resumes and experiences, tem- peraments and personal traits. The top two vote-getters in the Family Coun race will get in swing the gavel and make decisions which, they said, will affect those who come before them their enture lives Asher. who presides over misde:- Audience benches JlldlClal No questions on Family Court race meanor criminal cases in District Court, | said he bas 35 years of experience in the | courtroom. He pointed out that Family _ Courtjudges have a particularly important | mpombxlxty because they rule alone - =: there are no juries. > I He said sitting on the Family Court | bench involves not just the law, but traits -| like creativity and experience. O \All judgements should be tempered | with mercy. and I've tried to do that in ~ court,\ Asher said. - Wjudflesmdhchasalongrecorflof , public service in both gmcmrncntal and - private organizations, including time in ~ the Army, more thin 17 years on the | Huntington Town Planning Board and 35 > years as a member of the Huntington >- Kiwanis Club, where he was president - twice and won the organization's highest award. He added that he and his wife were the quintessential football captain and cheerleader when they got together. | Blass, seeking his second term on the bench, called Family Court \the emergen- | cy room of the court system\ and said a - judge there holds \the most important - posxtmnmpubhc service\ because his rul- ings impact families for generations. I \It's very rewarding and sometimes | very frustrating work,\ Blass said. \It's an - opportunity to do God's work every day.\ M] | 'The Port TIMES RECORD - \Man of the Year for Civics\ ~ 2003 | Polish American World - \Citizen of the Year\ ~ Since 1967 - The Local Guy for the Local Community for Full-Time Representation Top 10 Reasons to Vote for ED WENDOL See: www.edwendol.com ~ Get Control Over Your Quahty Of Llfe... Vote ED WENDOL - Paxd for by Committee to Elect Ed “bridal 2002 ~- families together.\ The judge said thatalthough he has the heaviest casclond of any magistrate in FaxmlyCauLhellsfieleulalMof Family Count.\ The wife of ReprcseMve Steve Israel (D-Dix Hills), Budd also pointed ge of his gap in the family,\ Blass my? img Bundhczspmudflmwhenajudx— _cial review group called the Fund for ~* Modern Cousts twice observed his work, 1 mledMnia-udmamm flmfimmbcfmc Town Council for 10m beget-med V three times. Buddsmdshcknowsfincl-‘anfilym 1: - system \from the inside\ because she was - 31:erch 13 years as a child. *T really think it's given me a unique | MN on the Family Court,\ Budd “w“mkmwomnasm |: smtorney. ‘Imlyfltawbcthcmoa because I get to help -| sewndng wok : Mflmfih‘m‘m iflhfi Imuve tle: somae of - Mun-nth o. ;‘i’€ai s « * : -out-that on the Town Board, she helped pass laws keeping adult video stores away mmmughwnmgcommlson MMMMSHQ Kelley, mmawmwn is the biggest lew firm on castermn Long Island, mlommumm neygcncmlsofficehwemmw vate practice. Shcsaxdshehasfoundhawukudlc ud firm “cxcmng, but my heart is in pablic service.\ ~: Left said the fact that she has been mwflmmmaddmon \mummybeannflcawrof her *to ait on the bench. She .. also cited her own fiemilly life, noting that shit and hor husband huve thaee chaldecn. \It in dhfikoult to get across to voters probably 'the zaost qualities x judge should heve,\ Anik aaid. \T'as a por- son of integrity, a gorvon of grincigle, E offer you my word, my personal pledge that I will hold myself to the highest stan- Mwmkhxdaflmmmflt 1m t A -_\ # > (*
