By Mike Sever
Record-Courier staff writer
Becky Doherty, one of four candidates for the Portage County Municipal Court, is challenging her opponents to cut out the mud slinging and get back to the issues.
“This judicial race is too important for the citizens of Portage County to allow the politics and accusations to cloud the real issue: Who is the best qualified candidate for municipal court judge?”
Doherty, a former Summit County prosecutor, is running as an independent candidate for the judgeship now held by John Plough.
“Other candidates in this race have made headlines by making allegations, threatening lawsuits, and basically ‘mud slinging,’” Doherty said.
Doherty, of Suffield, is vying with Kevin Poland of Ravenna, Tommie Jo Marsilio of Garrettsville and Paul Brickner of Kent.
Doherty was an assistant prosecutor for 17 years, having tried well over 200 jury trials – primarily violent crime cases and aggravated murders.
She is an instructor at the Kent State University Police Academy, and is certified by the Ohio Police Officer’s Training Academy.
She also is the law director for the Village of Lakemore, handling legislative and zoning issues, as well as civil litigation representing the village.
“The people of this county deserve the information needed to elect the right person for the job. If this was an employment application, and the people were conducting the interviews, would you want to hear dirt about the other applicants, or the background that qualifies them for the position?” she said.
Marsilio was an assistant Portage County prosecutor until Sept. 18 when she was fired after a flier came to light alleging a “good old boys corruption club” was supporting Poland. Prosecutor Victor Vigluicci said he let Marsilio go because the flier “crossed the line” of professional and ethical conduct. Marsilio said she was fired because she refused to apologize to Poland.
“I have brought the concept that there are good old boys to light and that’s not mud slinging, that’s just calling it like it is,” Marsilio said.
“I’ll sing on, absolutely. I have not, I will not (sling mud). There’s no reason to,” she said.
“I certainly accept Becky’s challenge whole heartedly. I am running strictly on my record and experience,” Poland said Thursday.
“I don’t believe that I have slung any mud. I don’t want to and that’s why (Marsilio and I) had an agreement that we wouldn’t (sling mud). Miss Doherty and I have not had any issues. I think people are sick and tired of that stuff,” Poland said.
Brickner said he agrees with Doherty. “I think that’s a good idea” he said of the “back to issues and qualifications” challenge.
Brickner said he’s running on his decades of experience as an administrative law judge and as an appellate judge on the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals.
Doherty said she is challenging her opponents to run a campaign “that focuses on what counts — the qualifications necessary to be an effective and fair judge, the experience it takes to handle such a position, and the willingness to set aside the name calling and rely upon their own credentials.”