1)
Is this your first campaign? If so, what or who inspired you to
run for office?
No, this is not my first campaign. However, it is my first in
quite a while. I was first elected to office as a school board
member in 1977, and I served nearly fifteen years (four terms)
as a school board member of the Mayfield City School District
(suburban Cleveland). In 1987, I ran but did not win election
as Judge of the Lyndhurst Municipal Court (suburban Cleveland)
against a long-time incumbent.
I
have a life-long passion for public service, and I was inspired
to seek elective office again because of my work last year as
the Central Ohio Coordinator of the Dean for America campaign.
I was a very early supporter of Governor Dean, having known about
him from mutual friends in Vermont, and I began my involvement
with Dean Meetups in February 2003. We were highly successful
in building a strong grassroots base here, doubling our size every
month through October when I was appointed a Magistrate and could
no longer lead a political group. The enthusiasm of so many people
new to politics and campaign activity was so exciting and inspiring.
My early meetings with Governor Dean and Joe Trippi also inspired
me.
2) What is your Party affiliation?
In
Ohio, judicial elections are non-partisan. I have been endorsed
by the Franklin County Democratic Party and by two DFA affiliates:
Central Ohio DFA and Wake-Up Ohio.
3) What elected offices have you held? Years?
I
served as a school board member for nearly fifteen years, from
1978 to 1992. I was elected Board President for six of those years
and Vice-President for three. In addition, I was selected to the
All-Ohio School Board in 1987.
4) Please list the three most important issues to your
campaign.
-
I believe that all those who come before the court must be accorded
respect and courtesy.
-
A Judge must protect the rights of all parties and administer
justice fairly and impartially.
-
A Judge must provide all litigants and their lawyers both the
opportunity to be heard and the understanding that they have been
heard.
5) What do you feel sets you apart from your opponent(s)?
Experience
and enthusiasm for public service.
My
legal and life experience is broad, deep, and substantial. I am
well-prepared and well-suited to serve as a Judge. I like helping
people and resolving disputes, and I am good at it.
I
have been a lawyer for 25 years, including 13 in private practice
in Cleveland and 11 for the Ohio Attorney General.
I
have substantial experience handling both criminal matters and
civil case. While in private practice, I handled a variety of
legal matters, and I developed a specialty in providing legal
services for the elderly. However, realizing that my passion was
public service, I left my successful private law practice and
moved my family to Columbus, Ohio to join the Ohio Attorney General
as Assistant Chief of Consumer Protection. I fought to protect
consumers from telemarketing and fraud. Later, I served Ohio as
Tobacco Litigation Counsel, fighting to protect kids from marketing
by large tobacco corporations. The tobacco litigation was the
largest most complex case in history.
I currently serve as a Magistrate in the same common pleas court
to which I seek election. As a Judicial Officer, I preside over
trials, hearings, and criminal arraignments. I was appointed to
this position by the current sixteen judges on the court.
6)
Please list your other endorsements.
"Highly
Recommended" by the Franklin County Trial Lawyers Association
Franklin County Democratic Party
Franklin County Council of Education Associations
Central Ohio Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Constructions Trades Council
OCSEA/ AFSCME Local 11 (Ohio Civil Service Employees Association)
Transport Workers Union of America Local 208
AFSCME United, which includes:
AFSCME / Ohio Council 8
OAPSE / AFSCME Local 4 (Ohio Association of Public School Employees)
AFSCME Retiree Chapter 1184
Teamsters Local 284
Teamsters Local 413
United Auto Workers Union Local 969
Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio
Other
endorsements on the way…
7) Please list your other grassroots support.
Central
Ohio DFA (Democracy for America)
Wake-Up Ohio
8) Please state your previous occupation and professional
affiliations.
Magistrate, Franklin County Common Pleas Court
Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Ohio Attorney General
Tobacco Litigation Counsel, Administration Section
Assistant Chief and Acting Chief, Consumer Protection Section
Eric S. Brown Law Offices, Cleveland, Ohio
Associate, Yulish, Twohig and Associates Co., L.P.A., Cleveland,
Ohio
9)
Please list your hobbies and other interests.
My
family. My wife Marilyn and I have been married for 31 years.
We have two daughters. Our older daughter Beryl is married and
lives in Columbus where she is a law student at The Ohio State
University. She and her husband are new parents of a four-month
old son. Grand-parenting is wonderful! Our younger daughter Daryn
lives in New York City where she works as an AEA professional
stage manager on and off Broadway.
10) Seniors for America member referral.
Howard Vicini
