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Thursday, November 01, 2007
Ind. Courts - "Charlestown judge candidates differ on crime"
Stephanie Mojica of the Jeffersonville/New Albany News & Tribune reports today in a story that begins:
For 20 years, Charlestown City Court Judge George Waters has sat on the bench — and his opponent, Fred Krenke, thinks it is time for a change.Waters, 82, and schoolteacher Krenke, 62, are on the ballot for the Nov. 6 election to sit as judge of Charlestown Court — which hears misdemeanors such as driving while intoxicated charges that happen in the community.
Both men have lived in Charlestown for more than 30 years, and each is married with children and grandchildren. But the ways they would like to approach the office differ and do not heavily relate to partisan politics. Waters is a Democrat; Krenke is Republican.
When Waters tries cases in his court — which meets two nights a month — he says he thinks not only of the law, but how to help both the defendant’s finances and freedom when possible.
That’s what Waters is doing wrong and why it is time to change, Krenke says.
“I sat in his court several times and thought he was way too soft on crime,” Krenke said. “There was one man who committed about four crimes who got off with $13 in court costs. That doesn’t help anyone.”
Waters said he feels the city court’s duty is to do more than just put residents in jail and earn money for its government.
“I have a pretty big responsibility,” Waters said. “I have always used the power of the suspended sentence for a first-time defendant.”
Krenke said that’s not always an appropriate response, especially where drunken driving is concerned.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on November 1, 2007 07:19 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts