Willenborg supports Dusing for Boone/Gallatin Family Court
I am writing about Jennifer Dusing and the very important election for Family Court Judge in Gallatin and Boone Counties. My name is Tom Willenborg and I am a practicing attorney in Boone County where my duties have largely been to represent children over the past eight years. Due to the heavy caseload in Boone and Gallatin Counties, one of the busiest Judicial districts in Kentucky, the state legislature passed a law to bring a second Family Court Judge to Boone and Gallatin to work with Judge Bramlage.
This is an important Judicial election as the winner will be Family Court Judge until 2022. There are a lot of candidates in this election. I know nearly all of them personally and they are all great people but I want to talk a bit about what it takes to be a great Family Court Judge.
First, experience as a practicing attorney matters. All of the candidates have experience but not all of them have substantial Courtroom experience. Jennifer Dusing has been a practicing attorney for the last twelve years and has spent much of her career in the Courtroom. Second, family law is different from criminal or other civil law. The Court makes important and long-lasting decisions about the custody and parenting time of children, and where they live. The Court also makes decisions about matters of domestic violence as well as child support. Not all of the candidates have substantial family law experience. Jennifer Dusing has been a family law attorney for the entire time she has practiced and she has specialized in adoptions as well as custody matters; the very cases she would be charged with presiding over.
Next, it is important for a Family Court Judge to have a calm and considered demeanor while on the bench. While none of the candidates have previous judicial experience, I think the example they have set as lawyers informs us to who they will be as Judge. Family Law cases are very delicate because of the strong emotions they evoke and the life-changing consequences of many judicial decisions. Based on the example that Jennifer Dusing has set while as an attorney, I have confidence that she would bring the same professionalism and level-headedness to her role as Judge.
Finally, I think that it is also important for the new Family Court Judge to be an active member of the community which she represents. Jennifer Dusing is married to Andrew Dusing, who is an Assistant Principal at Ryle High School. She has a family that lives in Boone County and is actively involved in her children’s school and sporting activities and is on the Board of the Women’s Crisis Center of Northern Kentucky.
While all of the candidates have some of the attributes that I think it would take to make a great Family Court Judge, only one of them has all of them – Jennifer Dusing. I believe that Jennifer Dusing is the best choice for Family Law Judge and that the children and families of Gallatin and Boone County would be in good hands for as long as she is on the bench.
Thomas Willenborg
Covington
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Angela Crout-Mitchell for Jesse Parks, state representative
I had the opportunity to sit down recently with Jesse Parks, the candidate for KY district 60 state representative. What I learned in that time is that Jesse is wholeheartedly invested in the growth and best interests of district 60, Boone County, and Kentucky. In these last days before the midterm election, let’s take a look at Jesse, his campaign, and his plans for Frankfort when he’s elected.
It is impossible not to catch on to his passionate belief in equal, fair leadership and representation. In a time when candidates and elected officials are refusing to answer the questions and concerns of the people, hold town halls, or respond to phone calls and emails, Jesse Parks has spent his campaign proving that he will not be one of those representatives who think he isn’t responsible to the people, once in office. From answering questions on his Facebook page to providing supporters and detractors, with his personal cell phone number, Jesse has already proven he welcomes input and isn’t afraid to interact quickly and effectively with those with questions and concerns. This emphasis on communication and transparency will be invaluable in Frankfort.
Speaking of communication, voting is one of the most effective ways people can make their wishes known. Jesse has a couple of ideas about how to improve that process across the state. In Kentucky, including parts of district 60, people who live in rural areas sometimes experience difficulties getting to the polls. Vote by mail would eliminate the problems the elderly, disabled, and impoverished experience with reliable transportation to get to the polls. Additionally, Jesse is in favor of extending voting hours. Not only could this change alleviate the problems some in rural areas experience, it would also benefit Kentucky’s working voters. While Kentucky law states that employers must give their employees four hours to vote, it does not stipulate whether that time must be paid. That decision is up to the discretion of the employer. Extended voting hours are a sure solution for working voters to assure that they won’t suffer financially for making the decision to vote.
One of the biggest challenges facing Kentucky is the heroin epidemic. The crisis has already claimed thousands of lives and shattered thousands of others. For Jesse, the solution lies in education, rehabilitation, and giving those in recovery a real chance to break the cycle of abuse. He advocates starting with the most at-risk victims, women, and children. Currently, women are frequently caught in a cycle of recovery and repeat addiction due to an inability to escape the environment that led to the initial addiction. Jesse’s plan is to focus on sober and safe housing, while helping women receive the education and training necessary to move on to stable employment, benefits, and housing, eliminating the need to return to the environments and people who may risk sobriety. For recovering addicts of both genders, it is of paramount importance to create an environment that is ready to accept them and willing to provide employment and a real chance at a drug-free, healthy life.
Education and a strong, healthy environment are vital to all residents of district 60. Jesse supports protecting the pensions of our teachers, first responders, and state employees. He believes that if Kentucky is to attract and keep, high-quality teachers, police officers, and firefighters, social workers, and others, the Commonwealth must protect their best interests. With quality state employees, our public education system remains strong and improves, with tax dollars going to public schools and not into the pockets of the people who own privatized charter schools. Our streets are safer with first responders who are equipped, trained, and able to assist in emergencies. Protecting their promised pensions and benefits is the right thing to do and ensures that Kentucky’s present and future are in the hands of people who know that the sacrifices they make during their careers will be rewarded.
November 6th is almost here. It’s time for the voters in district 60 to decide what kind of leadership they want in Frankfort. That decision should come down to the candidate who will listen to ideas and concerns about the district’s best interests, promote growth and stability in district 60, and be proactive and transparent about what’s happening in Frankfort. Vote Jesse Parks!
Angela Crout-Mitchell
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Rene Heinrich supports Derek Durbin for Circuit Court Judge
Derek and I first met too many years ago when we both had recently opened up our solo law practices. His office was around the corner from mine in Newport and we often traded barbs and asked each other questions about the practice during those early days. Even back then, Derek showed a dedication to public service and to Campbell County.
For many years, Derek and I have practiced as Guardians Ad Litems, or appointed attorneys, for children on Campbell County’s Child Abuse docket. I have watched as Derek consistently maintained excellence in the practice, advocating for the baby in the NICU due to drugs and for the child subjected to abuse.
He respects people and finds common ground. He has a great, even temperament. And he knows the law. Even though we disagree on certain topics, Derek has always been one to respectfully listen and consider the argument, even if he doesn’t end up changing his mind.
Since then, we both have moved on, but we have maintained our professional friendship. Derek’s career has now engulfed every angle you would want a judge to know. From Prosecutor, to Criminal Defense Attorney. From Plaintiff’s Attorney to now Defense Attorney, Derek has done it all from the field, not the sidelines.
I guess I should also mention: Derek has a big brain. He’s smart. I mean, REALLY smart. Like smartest in the room smart. Lawyers know why they want a smart judge, but the public may not. A Circuit Court judge may go from a felony drug trafficking case, to a foreclosure action, to a trucking accident case all within the span of a few minutes during a normal day. The areas of the law a Circuit Judge touches are vast and intricate. When a judge doesn’t understand, or doesn’t get it, mistakes are made that often cause costly consequences for all involved, including the taxpayer.
Derek Durbin is a new face to politics in the County, and I say that’s a great thing. He’s not a politician. However, you can bank on what he says as being sincere, and his word being his bond. I can’t think of a better trait for an upcoming Circuit Court Judge.
I have had the privilege of practicing at this point in front of many good judges. The excellent judges, however, stand out in the crowd. They are brilliant. They are patient. They are kind yet firm. They operate on time. They treat all people with respect. They understand the law better than anyone in the room. They consistently work hard at being all of those things. Every Day.
I have no doubt that Derek Durbin will be an excellent judge, and I look forward to practicing in front of him in Campbell County.
Rene Heinrich
The Heinrich Firm
Newport
