Although a registered Republican for many years, I endorse Phillip Naumoff for Judge of the Richland County Court of Common Pleas. As a practicing trial lawyer for the past 36 years, I know how important electing competent trial court judges is to the citizens of Richland County. No other elected official in Richland County has as much power and authority over a citizen’s life, liberty, and financial protection or redress of wrongs as a common pleas court judge.
Party affiliation is truly irrelevant to who should be elected judge. Competence, experience, and the background to excel in performing the many duties of a general division trial judge are what is important, and on that basis, Phil Naumoff is clearly the outstanding, best qualified candidate in this election. In his decades of practice, Phil Naumoff tried countless civil and criminal cases as an attorney, giving him the broad experience and depth of knowledge he brought to the position of Magistrate Judge. With that experience, he has now excelled as Mansfield’s Magistrate Judge in the widest scope of trials and proceedings in civil and ciminal matters for 8½ years. No other candidate has anywhere near his experience or expertise, as any Richland County attorney can verify.
Before he became Magistrate Judge, Phil represented clients in civil and criminal matters for many years. Phil knows how expensive and burdensome a legal matter becomes.
As a Magistrate Judge, Phil earned a reputation of being fair and courteous to litigants and attorneys, of rendering well-written, legally sound decisions and rulings within the spirit and intent of our civil and criminal laws, of being firm yet fair to both sides in the cases before him.
Based on that demonstrated excellence as a Magistrate Judge, Phil Naumoff has earned the endorsements of law enforcement and of attorneys on both sides of criminal and civil disputes.
Phil Naumoff stands alone among the candidates in having those endorsements.
My law practice over the decades has primarily been civil lawsuits involving fraud, deceit, and business, employment, or commercial disputes where the issues are numerous and complex, so I know which candidate has demonstrated the experience, brains, skill, and energy to sift through disputed evidence to reach the fair and correct decision under often confusing legal positions; that candidate is only Phil Naumoff. Phil Naumoff deserves your vote.
As I am in the process of winding up my practice with an eye toward retirement, I will not be appearing before whoever our next elected judge will be, so my endorsement is not to curry any favor, but to provide honest assessment based on my personal observation and experience with all of the judicial candidates.
Jeffrey N. Kramer
Attorney
Shelby, Ohio
