Editor,

I am writing this letter to comment on the upcoming September 13, 2012 primary election to choose the Republican candidate for Chenango County Court Judge. I was a practicing attorney in Chenango County from 1975 until my recent retirement in December of 2011. I first served as the Chenango County Social Services Attorney and then beginning in 1989, I was privileged to serve as the Chenango County Attorney – a position I held until my retirement. Over those thirty plus years, I have become intimately familiar with the workings of the various Chenango County Courts, the judges, the lawyers and the related personnel in the court system. It is through my service as County Attorney that I know the two candidates seeking the Republican nomination - Frank Revoir Jr and Joe McBride.

The recent series of letters to the editor and campaign material supporting Mr. McBride would have the voters believe that experience as the District Attorney should be the determining qualification for our County Court Judge. However, research into the sitting judges of the five counties surrounding Chenango including Delaware, Otsego, Madison, Cortland and Broome reveals that of the 13 judges who preside over Family Court, County Court and Surrogate’s Court, not a single one was a former District Attorney of their respective county. This fact alone should demonstrate to the voters that experience as a District Attorney is not the key to being an effective County Court Judge.

It is certainly true that Judge Ingraham and Judge Dowd, two of Chenango County’s prior County Court Judges, both served as elected District Attorneys before becoming County Court Judge. A critical difference never mentioned in McBride campaign material is that both Irad Ingraham and Kevin Dowd were “part-time” District Attorneys who simultaneously maintained an ongoing private law practice, appearing in Family Court, County Court and Surrogate’s Court, right up until the day they took office as Judge. In their judicial campaigns, neither Judge Ingraham nor Judge Dowd distinguished themselves as the right candidate for County Court Judge because of their service as District Attorney, but they distinguished themselves because of their unique abilities, talents and personalities. As an attorney, I find that Mr. McBride’s constant self comparison to Judge Ingraham and Dowd to be rather disingenuous, presumptuous and misplaced.

In this election Frank Revoir is the only candidate who has been practicing in, and is intimately familiar with, all three courts over which the County Court Judge presides. I cannot over emphasize this fact to the voting public. Frank commenced his legal career as a Law Clerk to all three Courts – a position he held for 5 years, serving Judge Dowd. No other candidate has served in such a capacity. For the next 16 years, Frank has maintained a private law practice and handles Family Court matters, Criminal Court matters and Surrogate’s Court matters. As I am writing this letter, Frank has cases pending in all three courts – felony cases pending in County Court; custody, visitation and child support cases pending in Family Court; and estate proceedings and adoptions pending in Surrogate’s Court. Frank’s legal background and experience is much more akin and worthy of a comparison to Judge Ingraham and Judge Dowd.

Contrary to the assertions being made in print these days, Frank has handled hundreds of criminal cases in the local courts and in the County Court system. Frank is a well seasoned criminal defense attorney with extensive relevant experience. Frank’s last felony trial in the County Court was in September 2009. At the conclusion of that trial, Frank’s client was acquitted of all charges and the Judge publicly chastised the District Attorney’s Office for bringing such a frivolous case (the Evening Sun covered the public chastising). Frank’s other two felony trials at the County Court level resulted in acquittals as well – making Frank’s felony acquittal record 100%.