By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Three candidates are on the ballot for Tuesday’s municipal primary, hoping to replace St. Joseph Municipal Judge John Boeh, who is retiring.
Assistant City Attorney Jason Soper says his experience as a public defender and a city prosecutor prepares him for the position.
“The whole idea about being a judge is all about balance,” Soper tells the KFEQ Hotline. “You have to be equal to both sides. You have to give everyone their chance to speak. You have to give everyone their say. And having been on both sides and argued both sides, I think gives me kind of a leg up if you will on being able to do that.”
Soper received his law degree from UMKC. He has work as a public defender and in private practice before joining the St. Joseph city attorney’s office.
Soper advocates bringing back the homeless court and suggests creativity might be needed in cases such as property management in which a fine might be levied to make repairs or clean-up a property.
Soper sees the role as that of a public servant.
“There will be opportunity to do things for the city that I would not normally have through that job,” Soper says. “I think I would be able to do it.”
Another assistant city attorney is in the race.
Assistant City Attorney Theodore “Ted” Elo says he has represented young people in municipal court.
“A lot of them I would see once or twice on a few minor violations,” Elo says during a telephone interview on the KFEQ Hotline. “They cleaned up their act or slowed down and did what I was advising them to do and what their parents were and they went on down the road and they never got in trouble again.”
Elo received his law degree from St. Louis University. He worked in the private sector before joining the St. Joseph city attorney’s office.
Elo says St. Joseph should consider holding night court periodically for those who have trouble attending court during the work day.
“They can’t get away and go down and wait in municipal court for a couple of hours and cost them two or three hours of wages.”
Attorney Terri Lowdon says she has practiced in municipal courts from Maryville to Kansas City during her 30-plus years in private practice.
“I’ve done other things for the city and I thought this is something that I think I’ll be not just well qualified, but I have the disposition and the background to succeed at and it would be a good service,” Lowdon says during her appearance on the KFEQ Hotline.
Lowdon received a law degree from UMKC and has experience in criminal practice as well as family law. She is in private practice. Lowdon has been a member of the St. Joseph Zoning Board of Adjustment and serves on the city Human Rights Commission.
Lowdon says a municipal judge must be both lenient and tough. She advocates leniency for first-time offenders and says if probation is given, it needs to be enforced.
“If we’re going to allow probation, which in most cases should, if it’s a first offense, then let’s make sure it’s the only case they have,” Lowdon says. “And let’s get them some tools to help them be successful on probation, but let’s also hold them accountable.”
The three candidates will be on the Tuesday ballot.