Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues
The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Public financing,
Merit selection,
Racial Fairness
Click on a name for other candidate information.
1. Do you support public financing of campaigns for judicial candidates? Why or why not?
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Answer from Dennis S. Helmick:
I do not support financing judicial campaigns with taxpayer dollars. Society cannot simply throw money at voters in order to educate them. If judicial campaigns were financed, every candidate would clamor for public financing. How much would ever be sufficient? Would public financing preclude private expenditures? Would publicly financed campaigns afford free advertising for a candidate's private practice? Equal amounts to both candidates would insure the incumbent's victory. I do support public media candidate forums.
2. Would you support merit selection of judges? Why or why not?
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Answer from Dennis S. Helmick:
I would support a modified version of merit selection in
which an appointed judge would run against her or his
record. Thereafter voters could vote the judge out if they
do not like the judge's rulings or sentencing policies.
Voters must be able to exercise their inalienable right to
choose the leaders of their government--to select those
individuals who most reflect the moral values of their
community as embodied in our
3. In light of the Report of the Ohio Commission on Racial Fairness: Reviewing fairness of the Ohio legal system, what do you see as your role in addressing racism within the legal system
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Answer from Dennis S. Helmick:
As a judge, I attempt to insure that all participants in my
Court are treated equally under the law and with resect. As
a lawyer, I support diversity outreach programs like the
Roundtable, S.W.E.L. and the Minority Summer Clerkship
Program jointly sponsored by the Cincinnati Bar Association
and the Black Lawyers Association of Cincinnati. As an
individual, I encourage all minorities to enter law school,
serve as a mentor, and provide support to scholarship
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League, but formatted for Web display.
Candidates' statements are presented as
submitted. Word limits for answers are 75 words for each question.
Direct references to opponents are not permitted
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily.
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