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Among the 59 counties where local judges were on the November ballot, only two saw incumbents get voted out of office.
The most bitter battle came in St. Joseph County, where Democratic incumbent Probate Judge Jason Cichowicz was unseated by Republican deputy prosecutor Loris Zappia.
The bruising campaign saw Republicans launch attack ads against Cichowicz, blaming him for a fatal shooting, according to radio station WVPE. The probate judge oversees juvenile justice, and prosecutors have charged an 18-year-old with murder, saying he committed the July 30 shooting after slipping away from juvenile probation staff during a trip to a South Bend Cubs game.
In August, Zappia was allegedly involved in an altercation with his brother Len, who is a probate magistrate under Cichowicz. Police were called to the scene but no incident report was filed, according to the South Bend Tribune.
Later, Loris Zappia posted a statement on his Facebook page that said the incident was “aggressively orchestrated by my brother, a hostile surrogate of the Cichowicz campaign.”
Ulitmately, Zappia won the race with 54% of the vote to Cichowicz’s 46%
The other incumbent unseated on Nov. 5 was Delaware Circuit Court Judge Kimberly S. Dowling. She was defeated by Republican Andrew J. Ramirez, a deputy prosecutor.
Ramirez acknowledged to the Muncie Star Press that President-elect Donald Trump’s strong showing in Delaware County helped him secure victory. Trump won 57% of the county’s vote. In the race for judge, Ramirez had 56% of the vote to Dowling’s 44%.
Across Indiana, only six other races for local judge were contested. The results:
-In Clark County, Magistrate Judge Lisa Reger, a Republican, defeated Democrat Dustin White, a public defender, for judge in Clark Circuit Court No. 4. That position is now held by Vicki Carmichael, who is retiring. The margin of victory was about 26 percentage points.
-In another contested Clark County race, incumbent Republican Judge Kyle Williams of Clark Circuit Court No. 6. defeated Democrat Andrea Stemle, a public defender, picking up more than 55% of the vote.
-For Johnson Superior Court judge, county Magistrate Brandi Foster Kirkendall defeated Greenwood attorney Gloria Danielson, 69.5% to 30.5%. Kirkendall will succeed Judge Kevin Barton, who is retiring.
-Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Thode, Republican, was re-elected over Democrat Robbin Trowbridge Benko, 58% to 42%.
-In the nonpartisan race for Vanderburgh Circuit Court judge, former state representative Ryan Hatfield defeated Superior Court Magistratie Molly E. Briles, 53.5% to 46.5%. Hatfield will succeed Judge David Kiely, who did not seek re-election.
-For Vigo Superior Court judge, Republican Daniel Kelly defeated Democrat Kenneth E. McVey III, 62% to 38%. Kelly will succeed Judge Michael Lewis, who did not seek re-election.
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