English, McGowan, Feldstein lead for Lucas Co. judge posts

5/7/2014

English

Lucas County voters narrowed the field of would-be judicial newcomers in three primary races.

The impending departure of two Lucas County Common Pleas judges, who are barred by age limits from seeking re-election — Judge Frederick McDonald in the court’s general division and Judge Norman Zemmelman in the domestic relations division — spurred the primaries.

In the Democratic primary for Judge McDonald’s seat, Ian English, 44, Laura Restivo, 45, and Richard Roberts, 64, sought their party’s nomination.

Mr. English, 44, an assistant county prosecutor in the criminal division for 13 years, held a solid lead with more than 72 percent of the vote counted as he had throughout the evening. The winner in that three-way race will face Mark Davis, who was unopposed as a Republican.

In the domestic relations division, each party had a two-candidate primary.

On the Republican side, Lisa McGowan, 46, a magistrate in domestic relations court, commanded a wide lead over Joseph Clarke, 37, whose legal specialty is family law.

Ms. McGowan was a staff attorney for Judge David Lewandowski for 12 years and served the last two years as a full-time magistrate.

Jay Feldstein, 59, the endorsed candidate, took the lead early in the Democratic primary and held it.

Also seeking the Democratic nomination was John Coble, 57, also a longtime lawyer.

Mr. Feldstein is in private practice with Kalniz, Iorio & Feldstein Co. and handles civil, criminal, and family law.

Domestic relations court handles divorces, dissolutions, annulments, child custody, and other issues related to the end of marriages.

The general division handles civil and felony criminal matters.

All of the domestic relations candidates graduated from the University of Toledo law school.

The annual salary for a judge in common pleas court, which is set by law, currently is $121,350. Common pleas judges serve six-year terms.

Contact Mark Zaborney at: mzaborney@theblade.com or 419-724-6182.