By Hayleigh Gowans
Staff Writer
On Tuesday, Nov. 7, voters in DeWitt will have the opportunity to select their choice of candidate for the town supervisor, town justice, town clerk, highway superintendent and three town councilor seats.
For town supervisor, Republican Gregory Scicchitano will again challenge incumbent Democrat Ed Michalenko. In 2015, these two candidates ran against each other with Michalenko winning the seat with 52.62 percent of the vote. The term for this seat is two years. (Click here to read the town supervisor candidate questionnaires.)
For town councilor, there are three seats up for grabs. Incumbent Democrats Kerin Rigney and Joe Chiarenza seek reelection to their seats, and former Democrat town board member Jack Dooling seeks to again be elected to a seat. Republican Mike Durkin and Conservative Bernard Ment seek to also be elected to these seats. (Click here to read the candidate profiles for town councilor candidates.) Democrat Jamie Frank will not seek reelection to his seat.
Incumbent Republican Bob Jokl will seek reelection to his seat as town justice. Karen Docter, a Democrat who is currently serving on the town board for a term that ends in 2020, has chosen to instead run as the Democratic challenger for town justice.
Incumbent Democrat Angela Epolito seeks uncontested reelection to the town clerk seat, and incumbent Republican Rocco Conte will also run unopposed for the highway superintendent seat.
Polls on Election Day will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7. For more information about the elections, go to ongov.net/elections/index.html.
The Eagle Bulletin distributed uniform candidate questionnaires for all of the contested elections in DeWitt.
Following are the responses of town justice organized by alphabetical order of last names:
Town Justice
Karen Docter
Political Affiliation: Democrat, endorsed by Onondaga County Democratic Committee; Central New York Community Action Program Council, United Auto Workers, Region 9; Iron Workers Local 60 and the New York Working Families Party.
Educational background and professional history: I graduated from Nottingham High, School, earned my Associate of Arts from Onondaga Community College, my Bachelor of Science from Cornell University and two Master’s degrees from Syracuse University’s College of Human Development and School of Education respectively. I taught for six years before deciding to embark on a career in law; I was accepted at Syracuse University College of Law and I have been an attorney in private practice for over twenty-five years as advocate in criminal and family law. I hold a New York State license to teach law and frequently present at Syracuse University College of Law, and to attorneys through the Onondaga and New York State Bar Associations.
Additionally, I practice in Supreme Court as Court Evaluator where I aid the judge in his/her understanding of the facts of the case and as Guardian Ad Litem for persons under disability in both Family and Supreme Courts where I stand in the shoes of the disabled person and represent the interests of that person as if he or she were cognitively and developmentally able to decide how to advocate for himself. I also practice collaborative law and mediation as alternatives to traditional litigation.
Community service is a highlight in my life. I was a volunteer with Headstart by the time I was 12 years old and I have continued to participate for the good and welfare of our community ever since. I was an active member of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity while I was in college and I am proud to be a life member of that organization. I was on the board of our local Camp Fire organization, formerly Camp Fire USA and originally Camp Fire Girls of American, a co-ed inclusive youth development organization. I have been a member of DeWitt Rotary for over twenty-one (21) years and served as program chairperson for a term.
In the legal world, I am the co-chair of the Onondaga County Bar Association’s Family Law Committee and am a stakeholder in the New York State Court Improvement Project.
Why are you running for the position of town justice?
People come to court for many reasons, but they all have one thing in common — a sensitive legal problem that needs to be immediately addressed. Town of DeWitt Justice Court handles civil, criminal, small claims, landlord/tenant disputes, eviction cases and domestic violence matters, that happen within the Town of DeWitt. I am running for this position because I believe that people deserve justice in the simplest way possible and are entitled to settlements that are prompt and effective. I have a unique background in collaboration and mediation. I have developed techniques over the past 25 years that lead to expeditious results using these special skills. If a matter cannot be settled, I have extensive trial experience before many judges in different courts-village, town, Supreme, Famil, and even the Appellate court — and that experience is integral to the role of judge.
If elected, do you have any ideas to improve the town court?
I have specific ideas to improve efficiency, such as scheduling orders, pretrials that establish specific goals and objectives, and requiring that the attorneys on a specific case work to resolve the matter prior to court. I will also make sure that I am always available to attorneys other than just on the day of court.
What distinguishes you from your opponent?
I have tried hundreds and hundreds of cases and I have settled hundreds of cases as well, in all the courts I have mentioned…I have advanced education in child development and in education; my opponent does not. My background will enable me as a judge to work with juveniles on their own unique levels and design the solution that is developmentally appropriate for them while also protecting the community…With my background, I know of the necessary services for them that will help them get off the streets and thus protect our community.
Bob Jokl
Political Affiliation: Republican; also endorsed by Independence, Veterans and Conservative parties.
Educational background and professional history: My wife, Sara Farchione, M.D., and I have raised our three children in the town of Dewitt. I have served as Town Justice for the Town of Dewitt since 2010. I served as chair of the Town of Dewitt Zoning Board of Appeals, president of the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Greater Syracuse and a member of the Onondaga County Planning Board. I previously served on the Board of Directors of Housing Visions Unlimited, Inc. I have practiced law in our community for nearly 30 years.
Why are you running for the position of town justice?
My service as Town Justice over the past eight years has reaffirmed my belief in Dewitt’s unique community spirit. Our community cares about how we treat each other as individuals, rather than maintaining a mysterious and impersonal system. We take the time necessary to ensure that each person in our court is afforded the respect and dignity that our residents expect of each other. It has been an honor for me to serve our community to advance these ideals, and I wish to continue fulfilling our Dewitt’s expectation that its court meets the personal ideals of our entire community.
If elected, do you have any ideas to improve the town court?
An individual’s appearance in town court often is his or her only interaction with the justice system. It is important that people are treated fairly and respectfully, so that we validate for them the integrity of our judicial system. As I have demonstrated over the past eight years as Dewitt Town Justice, our Town Court should not be a bureaucratic machine that churns out cases without consideration of the impact upon parties and the community. I believe in applying the law in each case individually, in terms that are what is best for that person, the family and the community.
What distinguishes you from your opponent?
Although I have volunteered in public service throughout my life, I am not a politician and I do not seek to serve in any other elected office. I enjoy serving our community as Dewitt Town Justice in an impartial and apolitical manner. I believe that I have earned your trust.
