Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5, and early voting is underway. The following candidates were asked by Eagle Newspapers what it was that made them want to run for their desired offices, how their experience will serve them going forward and why they’re an ideal candidate, what they’d consider the biggest challenges in their community at present, what their ideas are for addressing those challenges, and what they appreciate most about their respective communities.
Christina El Bayadi, DEM
My reasons for running are two-fold: my unique professional and personal experiences. As a child of divorce, growing up, I experienced the heartache that comes with family centered issues. Fast-forward, years later, and my parents are very good friends. Naturally, in law school, I was drawn to this area of law- I participated in the family law clinic, took every family law related class, and I graduated with a Certificate of Specialization in Family Law and Social Policy.
I serve as a support magistrate in our family courts. In this role, I use my knack for deescalating tense situations, creativity, knowledge of the law, compassion, and authoritative nature, to help the people of Onondaga County. As a Family Court Judge, I would hear a larger breadth of cases and can use these skills to be more impactful on our community.
I am the only candidate who has judicial experience. I was appointed to the role of support magistrate in 2021, so I have over three years of experience presiding over trials, conferences, appointing attorneys where appropriate, ruling on motions and objections, making findings of fact, and issuing court orders. I also have over a decade of experience practicing law wherein I’ve handled custody, child support, family offenses, child abuse and neglects, matrimonial matters, and more. Before I was appointed, I was assigned to the Integrated Domestic Violence part, a specialized part created to help families in crisis.
One of the biggest challenges in our legal community is the lack of attorneys who serve on the Assigned Counsel Panel and the Attorney for Children panel. For example, in a custody and visitation proceeding, all parties are entitled to an attorney, including the children. There aren’t enough attorneys to go around. Our community has a housing crisis, a lack mental of health services, a fentanyl crisis…Judges do not make laws, they have to follow the laws. The bottom line is there are limitations on what a judge can do to impact societal problems. But what judges can do, is work within the laws that are written to help the individuals who appear in front of you.
Onondaga County is my home. I have wonderful memories in every nook and cranny! We have beautiful parks and lakes, fantastic schools, and a real sense of community. I think being winter warriors has united us all, and I’m proud to be from Central New York.
I don’t just say that I care about my community. Long before this Family Court Judge seat was signed into law last December, I have been active in our community. I’ve been a Big Brother Big Sister mentor for more than three years, I volunteer with the Girl Scouts and help out with CSBA.
I’m a CSEA union member and I’m proud to have been endorsed by the United Auto Workers. The Central New York Women’s Bar Association has rated me highly qualified to serve as your next Family Court Judge.
I have two daughters- ages 6 and 10. I understand the parenting challenges that so many coming into the family court system face. Parents/caregivers who are in a relationship disagree about the same issues that separated parents/caregivers do; Making decisions about screen time and discipline, issues related to religious, educational and medical care… extracurricular activities. I think the people of Onondaga County deserve to have someone who really gets it, I’m living it, too.
Christina El Bayadi
Jason Zeigler, REP, CON
I have been practicing law for nineteen years. I have handled cases in Family Court for the past fourteen years and have represented children in Family Court for the past twelve. Having represented people in both a retained and assigned capacity, I have worked hard to ensure fairness in the system. With an open seat available in Family Court, I believe I am the best person to bring both experience representing adults and children along with experience ensuring fairness in the system to the bench.
One of the biggest challenges in our community is the prevalence of juvenile delinquency. I have represented children in delinquency cases and there is not a one size fits all solution to these cases. For some children their first experience with juvenile delinquency is their last and for others it is not. We bring our life experience to what we do in our jobs. I am a father and a veteran, which I believe is relevant as many of the children involved in delinquency cases are in homes without a father and often without structure.
I love living in Onondaga County. I have spent almost my entire adult life in Upstate New York, ever since the Army sent me to Fort Drum after my time in South Korea. I have lived in Onondaga County for 23 of the past 24 years. I wasn’t born here. I chose to live here. It’s a great place to be and to raise a family.
Family Court is generally not a fun place to be. It takes patience, accountability, and remembering the humanness of everyone involved in the process to successfully practice in Family Court. These traits come with experience and I’d bring this experience to the bench should the people elect me.
Jason Zeigler
