Edmond Sun: Winds of change blow through Oklahoma County judicial system

Here is my column in the Edmond Sun:

Winds of change blow through Oklahoma County judicial systemMike ChionopoulosThe Edmond Sun
EDMOND — Oklahoma County voters mandated significant changes in the judicial system on Nov. 7. The office of Oklahoma County district attorney and the offices of four district judges and the associate district judge were all contested. Typically, incumbent office holders have an advantage, which is usually even more true in the races that are not “top-shelf” such as judicial races.

You, the voting public, removed the incumbent District Attorney Wes Lane, and three of the five incumbent judges. In other words, a majority of the voting public disagreed with the manner or fashion in which two-thirds of the challenged officials were performing their duties.

Additionally, decade-plus incumbent Judge Vickie Robertson of Edmond, narrowly fended off a challenging attorney with no judicial experience, Pat Crawley. But that win was by a much narrower margin than anticipated — a little more than 3,000 votes, or barely more than 51 percent of the ballots cast in that race, which is now subject to a recount challenge by Crawley.

The cacophony of change heard now, however, actually will not be felt until January. The New Year will bring with it a metamorphic — almost revolutionary — transfer of power in the Oklahoma County Courthouse.

Read the rest of my column HERE.