Public to have say on District Court judge selection process
Monday, September 22, 2008 12:06 AM PDT
By The Daily News
Printable version
E-mail this articleCowlitz County commissioners will host two public hearings this week to discuss the process for selecting a District Court judge.
The first of the hearings is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, at the county administration building. The second hearing, also Tuesday, is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Commissioners said last week that they will conduct interviews with the seven candidates for the position Oct. 1. Also included in the panel of interviewers will be representatives of the cities of Longview, Kelso, Kalama, Woodland and Castle Rock.
Commissioners expect to appoint the county's District Court judge during a 10 a.m. hearing on Oct. 7.
The Legislature approved the judge position, Cowlitz County's third, during its last session to help the county handle a glut of misdemeanor and traffic cases. The local courts have been slammed for years by the state's highest per-judge case loads.
Candidates for the position are: Cowlitz County Deputy Prosecutor Michael Evans; Longview City Attorney Marilyn Nitteberg-Haan; Longview Assistant City Attorney Heidi Thompson; attorney Patrick Kubin, who is married to Superior Court Judge Jill Johanson; and private attorneys Debra Burchett, Thad Scudder and Charles Angelico II.
- Tony Lystra,The Daily News
State learns from confusion over Vader School District dissolution
After watching the Castle Rock School District struggle to absorb the Vader district, the state is creating a how-to guide for similar districts.
Castle Rock officials agreed to absorb Vader after three levy and bond failures caused the Vader School Board to vote the district out of existence.
Though the plan was organized by the state Education Service District 113, Castle Rock officials encountered numerous problems as they worked through the process.
It's been at least 30 years since a Washington school district dissolved rather than voting to merge with another district. That left officials with no guidance on proper procedure. The situation was made worse when state and county officials gave Castle Rock conflicting advice and direction.
District officials believe all the confusion is behind them - assuming voters approve new school board director wards in November. But, they've had so many unexpected problems
they've learned never to say never.
Nonetheless, Interim Superintendent Susan Barker said she's glad to see other districts will have better support. And she told the school board she and other district officials will attend future state meetings to be sure all the problems uncovered in the process are addressed.
While the Vader situation was rare, Barker said it likely won't remain so. With many small, rural districts having difficulty passing bonds and levies, it's possible other districts could fold, she said.
- Barbara LaBoe, The Daily News
Tortoise wrote on Sep 22, 2008 9:42 AM:
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