From today's BCCT:
DJ candidates have different plans
By: GEORGE MATTAR
Bucks County Courier Times
Sitting District Judge Mike Burns is being challenged by Ron Smith, a Lower Makefield supervisor.
There's only one contested district judge race in Lower Bucks this November, and it's a hard-fought battle taking place in Morrisville, which is one of the busiest courts in Bucks.
The sitting district judge is Mike Burns, 47, who is seeking his second six-year term. In his years on the bench, he has handled more than 50,000 cases, he said.
His opponent, Ron Smith, 58, is a Lower Makefield supervisor and an attorney who works in Philadelphia.
Burns said his court will handle nearly 9,500 cases in 2009, due in part to Lower Makefield's aggressive traffic enforcement. He said most courts in counties as large as Bucks handle about 6,500 cases annually.
Both attended Pennsylvania State University for their undergraduate work. Burns earned a law degree from Widener University and Smith from Villanova University. Both are Lower Makefield residents.
Magisterial district court is the first level of authority in Pennsylvania and is the court where most people experience the judicial system for the first time.
District judges handle all traffic cases and other minor criminal and civil cases involving up to $8,000. District judges also set bail and conduct preliminary hearings in misdemeanor and felony criminal cases to determine if the case should be dismissed or transferred to the Court of Common Pleas for further proceedings. They are state employees and earn about $81,000 annually.
In last May's primary, Burns received 3,005 votes and Smith 2,033. Both were cross-filed and Burns got 1,031 Democratic votes and 1,974 Republican votes. Smith received 1,448 Democratic votes and 585 Republican votes, county voting records show.
Smith said, if elected, he would institute a regular night court schedule.
"In these tough economic times, many people cannot leave work to come in for a traffic ticket or some other case. I believe I should be available at night for the working people," he said. "I want to bring integrity back to the district judge position and put an end to judicial arrogance."
Smith said he is proud of his community service and has two years left on his term as a Lower Makefield supervisor. He has spent 20 years as a soccer coach for Yardley-Makefield Soccer, with seven of those years as president. He and his wife, Felice, raised three children, two sons and a daughter, who are all on their own.
Smith said he is proud he has led the fight against Aria Health bringing a hospital to Lower Makefield and his stand against further cell towers.
Smith also wants to stagger the court's schedule for police officers so they are not sitting around wasting time in court. He said that would save taxpayers in reduced overtime costs.
"It's important they be on the street protecting out citizens, not sitting around waiting for a hearing. That must be addressed," he said.
To do that, he proposes talking to the three police chiefs in the court's district - Yardley, Morrisville and Lower Makefield.
"I will have each officer show up for his or her hearings at certain times. For example, if an officer has four hearings, he or she will come in at 1 p.m., finish all four at once and leave. An officer scheduled for 2 p.m. would come in and do the same. This way we maximize the officer's time on the streets and be responsible to taxpayers by reducing overtime," Smith said.
If elected, he said he would practice law on a limited basis and vows to not represent anyone in Bucks County Court, which he said would be a conflict of interest.
Burns prides himself on what he says is his proven record of being tough on criminals, yet giving juveniles who make first-time mistakes a chance to turn their lives around.
The juveniles are why he has advocated drug courts in Bucks County. He wants first-time offenders to get counseling and help, rather than being dumped in a prison cell with no help.
Burns cites his work on two county-wide domestic violence boards as another reason he advocates intervention, rather than sending people to prison.
When a student is truant from school, he gets the parents to come in and discuss what the underlying problem could be, such as drug and alcohol abuse at home, or even parental abuse.
"Truancy is not about just not going to school. It is an indication there could be other problems at home," he said.
Burns said many kids make first-time mistakes, but with the proper guidance and showing someone cares, "we can work together and succeed."
One of the abuse committees he sits on is called "Intervention Batterers Oversight Committee." This committee's goal is to work with local police and ensure they notify groups like NOVA, so the groups that can help know there is a particular problem in a home," Burns said.
He said the victim's name is confidential and the batterer doesn't know she has contacted anyone. Burns said he also would continue his fight for drug courts, which he says will work.
He also plans to continue advocating more Big Brothers/Big Sisters programs and to suggest flex time for county employees, who would volunteer for the cause.
Burns and his wife, Karen Saraco Burns, have no children. He was named 2007-08 Lion of the Year by the Yardley-Makefield Lions Club. He also said he would be a full-time district judge and not devote much time to his law practice, which he shares with his father.
