VOTE411 Voter Guide

With 23 years of experience as a trial attorney advocating for individuals, families, and businesses in courts throughout Ohio, I’ve earned a reputation for sound judgment, fairness, and integrity. Earlier in my career, I gained judicial experience while serving as Acting Magistrate in the Dayton Municipal Court. I strive to apply the law consistently and impartially, and to treat every person with dignity and respect. I hold an AV-rating, the highest peer-reviewed rating for attorneys, and I’m proud to have served as President of the Dayton Bar Association.

I could readily point to trailblazers like Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O’Connor as role models. Both were brilliant, diligent, and dedicated. But in truth the first person who comes to mind as a mentor or role model is local: Judge Mary Wiseman, who currently serves on the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court. I have had the privilege of trying cases in front of Judge Wiseman. She has a sharp mind, impeccable judgment, and a calm, reasoned demeanor. More importantly, she embodies the role of a judge as a servant leader for the community. All are qualities to which I aspire.

I support the specialty courts developed by the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court, which has five different specialty courts for non-violent offenders eligible for community control sanctions. These specialty courts are designed to address underlying causes of crime to further two of the primary purposes of felony sentencing – protecting the public from future crime and rehabilitating the offender where possible. I would also support the development of additional specialty courts where appropriate and feasible, as well as continuously improving the current courts as data and methods evolve.

I maintain a broad general practice handling both civil and criminal cases ranging from high-level felonies to general civil litigation including contract disputes, property disputes, and civil rights claims. I represent Plaintiffs and Defendants in all courts across the region. Outside the courtroom, my background and experience illustrate my ability be a fair, impartial, and objective. As the husband of a nurse, son of a corrections officer and factory worker, and father of two girls, I am sensitive to the challenges and needs of the individuals who appear before the Common Pleas Court.

Montgomery County is fortunate to have many great Judges as role models who are engaged in the community and command respect regardless of party affiliation. I am particularly inspired by our federal judges who established and implemented the reentry court program for the U.S. District Court including Judges Rice, Rose, and Newman. Many of our local Judges serve on various civic boards and maintain specialized dockets (such as Veterans Treatment Court) in effort to improve the lives of the people in our county. I hope to improve upon the foundation laid by the Judges that serve our community.

I frequently advocate for alternatives to incarceration for my clients ranging from intensive supervision to in-patient treatment. Many defendants appear before the court with severe addiction or mental health issues that will not be resolved by incarceration alone. While incarceration may be necessary in some instances, the principles and purposes of sentencing require a sentence that promotes effective rehabilitation of the offender using the minimum sanctions necessary without imposing an unnecessary burden on government resources.