Pierce pulls out win in hotly contested Jeffersonville judge’s race

Election 2007

Related Photos

Discussion

November 7, 2007

By STEPHANIE MOJICA The News and Tribune Wed Nov 07, 2007, 09:43 AM EST

Democrat attorney Ken Pierce defeated fellow attorney and incumbent judge Scott Lewis for the Jeffersonville City Court judicial bench in Tuesday’s election, taking nearly 57 percent of the vote.

Pierce, 33, ran against Lewis, a 37-year-old Republican, who was appointed last December by Gov. Mitch Daniels to replace Vicki Carmichael after she was elected judge of Clark County Superior Court No. 1. Pierce has served as judge pro tempore for several courts in the area.

Election Day results showed 56.74 percent, or 3,636 people, voted for Pierce. Lewis took 43.26 percent of the total, or 2,772 votes.

Pierce celebrated his victory with friends and other supporters at Rocky’s Italian Grill. About a dozen people cheered as Pierce’s name flashed across a television station banner as election winner.

“I am ecstatic,” Pierce said. “I think my message resonated with the voters, and they recognized the effort I put into the campaign.”

Lewis could not be reached for comment as of publication deadline.

“I would like to congratulate my opponent for all the hard work he and his supporters put into his campaign,” Pierce said of Lewis on Tuesday. “I would like to especially congratulate all the other victorious candidates of the evening.”

A point of contention in the campaign was Lewis stating in a recent interview that Pierce’s objectives to reach youth before they become a part of the criminal system are a duplication of services and not appropriate for an adult court.

Now that he is elected, Pierce plans to implement a “lunch with a judge” program. In this monthly effort, students from Jeffersonville schools who exemplify good behavior will sit in court with Pierce.

He, along with other officials including police, will then take the student to any restaurant they choose, and speak with them candidly about their feelings and court experience. Pierce said he hopes this will enable students to feel supported, encourage their classmates to behave in school so their administrators will select them for the program and think before committing any crime.

In addition, he will also look into using probation money to hire off-duty security for the court, and work to alter the current system of on-duty Jeffersonville police officers. This would place those officers out on the street to protect residents outside the court, Pierce said in a recent interview.

During the campaign, mailings with Pierce’s mug shot, from a past drunken driving arrest, were distributed. Lewis denied direct involvement with that, claiming it was the Clark County Republican Party. Pierce was convicted in 2004 of class B misdemeanor public intoxication in connection with the incident, and has publicly expressed regret several times for the indiscretion.

“I believe the voters have spoken and I believe they’ve said that they will no longer tolerate negative campaigning,” Pierce said. “At the end of the campaign the candidates should be exhausted, not the voters.

“I want to thank all the voters who come out and supported me and the Democratic Party. I’d also like to thank all the voters in general. They should be commended for their participation in the political process.”

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Election 2007

NEWS ANALYSIS: New Albany's races by the numbers Three of every eight people who voted in Tuesday’s city elections took care of business with one stroke of a pencil.

November 7, 2007 1 Photo
It's Bob Hall heading back to the mayor's office in Charlestown The mayoral victory represented a near sweep for Republicans in Charlestown, as GOP candidates knocked off several Democrat incumbent councilmen.

November 7, 2007 1 Photo
Jeffersonville voters bring back Galligan “Winning is better than losing,” said Galligan, to his supporters after results were posted. “In the next four years, I hope to prove worthy of your support.”

November 7, 2007 1 Photo
Few changes on Jeffersonville City Council All of the Jeffersonville City Council members who had opposition Tuesday won re-election, meaning six of the board’s seven current members will return for four more years.
November 7, 2007 1 Photo
He's Back: England tops Hubbard in New Albany mayor's race Doug England completed his historic return to the New Albany mayor’s office Tuesday night, taking 52 percent of the vote, and 21 of 34 precincts, against Republican and former sheriff Randy Hubbard.
November 7, 2007 1 Photo
Democrats keep council control in New Albany New Albany voters kept all five incumbent City Council members in office Tuesday and chose four newcomers to replace current members not on the ballot.
November 7, 2007 2 Photos
Democrats sweep Georgetown races; Greenville board unchanged The Georgetown Town Board will have a new look beginning Jan. 1, while the Greenville Town Board remained intact following Tuesday’s election.
November 7, 2007
Democrats keep control of Clarksville Democrats hung on to control in Clarksville, as attempts by Republicans to gain a foothold on the Town Council failed during Tuesday’s election.
November 7, 2007 2 Photos
Pierce pulls out win in hotly contested Jeffersonville judge’s race Democrat attorney Ken Pierce defeated fellow attorney and incumbent judge Scott Lewis for the Jeffersonville City Court judicial bench in Tuesday’s election, taking nearly 57 percent of the vote.
November 7, 2007 1 Photo
Lowe retains judge seat in Sellersburg Sellersburg Town Court Judge R. Thomas Lowe kept his seat in the general election Tuesday, but may have to justify a need for the position to a new Democrat Party-controlled Town Council.
November 7, 2007
More Election 2007 Headlines

Election 2007

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

Pierce pulls out win in hotly contested Jeffersonville judge’s race

Site Map

Contact Us