NORMAN — The local judicial races have become quite the topic of water cooler conversations. The only outright winner Tuesday was Cleveland County Associate District Judge Stephen Bonner who received more than 55 percent of the vote in a four-candidate race.
It was believed to be a relatively low turnout for the judicial races. Errant television anchors told independents to stay home Tuesday since they couldn’t cast ballots in Oklahoma’s closed primary. All voters, regardless of registration, are issued ballots for the non-partisan judicial races.
Voters narrowed the field of candidates to two in both of the District Judge races on Tuesday’s ballot. However, in November, voters in Cleveland, Garvin and McClain counties will have four judicial races on their ballots. The runoffs are held in November rather than in August since races are non-partisan.
District Judges Tom Lucas and Lori Walkley face Jeff Bryant and Charles Broadway, respectively. They weren’t on Tuesday’s ballot because only one challenger filed in each race.
Rather than rely on slick mailers, unusual anti-candidate websites, whisper campaigns and robo-telephone calls, we challenge the bar association in each county or League of Women Voters groups to step up and hold a series of televised forums where candidates can make their case directly to voters. We expect judicial candidates to take the high road.
It may be unprecedented for local voters to see four judicial races on their ballot. The courts deserve to have the most qualified candidate win.
