A rare race for Superior Court Judge in Yolo County
Ryan Davis and Diane Ortiz are the only two candidates seeking our vote for this important position
Let’s just say right off the top that I don’t do endorsements.
In the most-educated city in America and maybe even the world, where half the residents have a Ph.D. and the other half think they should, no one needs to be told how they should vote.
That’s true whether we’re talking about a City Council candidate, a U.S. Senate candidate, a presidential candidate or a controversial issue like Measure V.
If you wish to vote for Donald Trump, fine with me. Just don’t expect an invitation to Thanksgiving dinner.
However, I am not shy about giving my opinion on candidates and issues in this space, even as I welcome comments from those who wish to disagree with my words of wisdom.
“Your Honor, I believe Mr. Dunning is leading the witness,” is a fair charge when it comes to what I am about to say.
Which brings me to today’s topic, the contest between two qualified individuals to be a Yolo County Superior Court judge.
You can argue all you want about which positions in government are the most important, but for my money, a county Superior Court judge is right at the top of the list.
In California, Superior Court judges are generally appointed by the governor when there’s an opening, then run for reelection - generally unopposed - when their term is up. Most always win.
In this case, there’s a contested election for an open spot due to the impending retirement of Superior Court Judge Janene Beronio.
Over the years, and especially currently, Yolo County has been blessed with a highly qualified and dedicated roster of Superior Court judges, no matter which governor may have appointed them.
A fair trial is assured in Yolo County.
Although Yolo County features different ballots for the June 2 Primary Election depending on which of three Congressional districts you may live in, all ballots will include the Superior Court judge race between Ryan Davis and Diane Ortiz.
This is not a race between the lesser of two evils. No, it is a race between two individuals who are highly qualified to serve as a Superior Court judge, though their legal backgrounds are substantially different.
Davis is a Sacramento County Superior Court commissioner. As such, he already knows how to put on that long black robe and pound a gavel.
Ortiz is a longtime Yolo County Deputy District Attorney.
As a nonpartisan office, this race is not subject to California’s Top Two Primary rules.
If either Davis or Ortiz receives a majority of the votes, he or she is elected.
Given that they are the only names on the ballot, the one receiving a majority on June 2 is assured election unless a write-in candidate comes along to spoil the soup. Trust me, that won’t happen.
What I like about Davis is his work as a public defender at the county, state and federal levels and his participation in Berkeley Law’s Death Penalty Clinic.
Additionally, and this is a big plus for me, I like his simple statement that he believes “every person deserves a level of compassion, integrity and fairness that isn’t earned and can’t be forfeited.”
Two candidates. One position.
The choice is yours.
Ryan is a child of Davis and of our neighborhood. We know he and his family well. He is our choice for this rarely elected open position. Personal feelings aside his background for this is tremendous he’s done the hard work in numerous difficult trials and now sits as a commissioner who takes all cases From traffic to the most serious. He’s ready. I know Diane professionally and have been at the opposite side of her prosecutions. I find her fair and reasonable i think she’d grow into a judgeship well. I just think at this time and at this point in their careers Ryan is the better choice. I c the support lineups. Law enforcement and prosecutors for Diane, civil rights groups and defense attorneys for Ryan. Progressives for Ryan, conservatives for Diane. But there is fascinating cross over. Ryan has scored endorsement of virtually all members past and present of our supervisors and city counsel members and thats big. He’s also waded into law enforcement usually an almost unanimous vote for a prosecutor and secured the support of our sheriff,, undersheriff and his wife, a highly popular yolo county deputy sheriff. Many civil rights groups here worked with Mexican and other Hispanic groups and might be counted on to support Ryan. But Diane is an intelligent, Hispanic articulate woman who is bilingual. Her family has deep roots in this community, which includes farm workers and other day laborers. She’ll speak to them in their native language and culture. So here’s my non prediction prediction. Davis heavily for Ryan. The outlying towns, farms and ranches heavily for Diane. Woodland a tossup but I think slightly to moderately for Ryan. Winters a tossup lots of farming and small business there but also a lot of artists and such. That leaves West Sacramento which often decides local elections. That’s a crap shoot with thousands of young professionals moving there replacing the drug invested horrid hotels that defined the city. Wouldn’t even guess how they'll vote Should be interesting.
ryan has my vote
endorsed
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