SELLERSBURG: Lowe seeks re-election to bench against Walker

The main difference between Sellersburg Town Judge Tom Lowe and his opponent in Tuesday’s election, Bruce Walker, is their opinion on the future of town court in the community.

Lowe, a 43-year-old Republican and licensed attorney, is the court’s first and only judge since the court started almost four years ago. Walker, 49, said he and other area Democrats are still not sure the town needs its own court and if deemed necessary, he will work to abolish the court and not mind giving up his judicial position if elected.

Both men disagree on whether the court is a money-maker or an unnecessary expense.

Lowe points out four years ago, Sellersburg got about 35 percent of the fines for traffic citations. With the local court, Sellersburg officers can write offenses as a local violation, which Lowe says earns Sellersburg about 80 percent — or $80 out of every $100 fine.

“I feel I’ve been very responsible with the money allocated to this court,” Lowe said. “If I’m re-elected, by next year, I expect our revenues will cover the court’s expenses and not cost the town government itself anything.”

Walker — current production supervisor at Sono Press in Louisville and a lifelong Sellersburg resident — says his 21 years of management experience with Ford Motor Co. has taught him the skills needed to manage the court’s finances and oversee its cases.

“A common misconception is only lawyers are supposed to be judges,” Walker said. “This is a court for the common man. I feel I am more able to relate to the citizens as one citizen to another than an attorney could.”

Walker also said the state of Indiana requires all new judges, with or without a law license, to attend training before handling cases. He said he was the person who dealt with all court functions, such as theft, fraud, and collections, while with Ford.

Lowe — a former Clark County deputy prosecutor and Floyd County public defender — said he enjoys trying to be a positive role model for the people who come into his court. Most cases deal with a drug or alcohol problem, and only misdemeanors are heard.

“About 90 percent of the people who come in here I don’t see again because it’s usually someone made a one-time mistake,” Lowe said. “This court gives Sellersburg a local solution to speeding and criminal activity, and someone who lives here is more likely to personally care.”

Both men, if elected, want to work actively with community youth. Lowe has an intern program where senior-level students from Sellersburg or attending a high school in the town can help with paperwork and signing in the defendants. Some of his past interns have gone on to be hired as part-time court staff.

Walker wants to institute programs with schools and youth groups to expose them to the ideas of the justice system and how court works.

“I really want to just show the young people that police officers and judges are on your side,” Walker said. “It is obviously better not to break the law, but I want people to know if someone makes a mistake, it’s not the end of the world.”

Lowe said any objective to end the town court could not happen until the 2011 election, and he hopes Sellersburg residents recognize the value of having its own court.

“I feel we’ve done a great job here,” Lowe said. “I knew when I came into office I would have a bigger impact on this court as its first judge than maybe anybody else. I think it is good government to provide these kind of solutions without any real burden to the taxpayer.”

Walker said if he comes into office, he is not necessarily saying the court must end, but that a thorough review and likely overhaul in how cases and revenues are handled seems to be in order.

“If elected, I also have a great fiscal responsibility,” Walker said. “Cases were handled in other courts until four years ago. Court sessions take an officer off the streets of Sellersburg, and I feel it would be my duty to see if things like that are even necessary for this community.”

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