Minneapolis (10-04-06): -- Lawyers from the Hennepin County Bar Association (HCBA) have expressed their preference between judicial candidates who will appear on the general election ballots in Hennepin County in November. In both contested races, the members expressed their preference for the incumbent judge.
This plebiscite was sponsored by the HCBA in conjunction with the Minnesota State Bar Association and the Ramsey County Bar Association as part of a statewide plebiscite on all contested district court races and for the one statewide contested race in an election for the Minnesota Court of Appeals. The ballot in the November general election for Hennepin County judgeships will also include eleven incumbent judges running unopposed.
For each of the contested seats for the office of judge of Hennepin County District Court, the plebiscite asked lawyers to vote for one candidate. The overall survey had a 19.6% response rate, with over 7,000 HCBA member lawyers given
the opportunity to express their preference.
Results:
|
|
Totals and percentages for seat 44,
the judgeship now held by Patricia Kerr Karasov
|
| Candidate |
Number of votes |
Percentage of votes cast |
| Patricia Kerr Karasov |
855 |
68.1% |
| Dee Rowe |
401 |
31.9% |
|
|
Totals and percentages for seat 48,
the judgeship now held by John Q. McShane
|
| Candidate |
Number of votes |
Percentage of votes cast |
| Kevin J. Kolosky |
58 |
4.5% |
| John Q. McShane |
1,219 |
95.5% |
In order to educate its members and the public by providing information that may be used as voters choose between candidates, the HCBA conducts this preference poll in each election year where there is at least one contested Hennepin County judicial seat. Biographical information supplied by the candidates is included with the survey unless otherwise requested by the candidate. In voting for a judicial candidate, members are asked to consider the candidates’ qualifications, their willingness to make a sacrifice for the public good, their willingness to perform the duties of the position, and their reputation for integrity and independence.
For further information on the Hennepin County District Court bench, including information on the candidates for election this fall, visit www.hcba.org/judges.htm
Information on Ramsey County contested races is available through Cheryl Dalby, (651) 222-0846, or cheryl@ramseybar.org.
Information on the statewide race for a judgeship on the Minnesota Court of Appeals, and for contested races for judgeships in other district court races, is available through Pat Everheart, (612) 278-6319, or peverheart@mnbar.org.