Letter: Herald should have endorsed Burrowes for Superior Court

I read the Tri-City Herald Oct. 6 editorial wherein you endorsed Sam Swanberg for Superior Court judge. The endorsement was surprising, particularly after reading the content of your editorial opinion. I simply cannot believe the Herald would endorse the only candidate in a judicial race with no judicial experience.

Judge Joe Burrowes is the only candidate with judicial experience. According to the editorial, Mr. Swanberg has tried 100 cases over a 23-year period as an attorney representing one side of the case. Judge Joe Burrowes has served as a sitting trial judge on 136 trials since 2007.

Your editorial leaves out the fact that, as a District Court judge, Judge Burrowes handles civil litigation on cases up to $100,000 in damages, in addition to non-felony criminal matters. Mr. Swanberg is clearly a one-dimensional candidate.

If Mr. Swanberg wants judicial experience, he should run for Judge Burrowes’ vacated position when the people of Benton and Franklin counties elect him to the Superior Court. Judge Joe Burrowes should be your selection as Superior Court judge.

This story was originally published November 4, 2016 at 4:49 AM with the headline "Letter: Herald should have endorsed Burrowes for Superior Court."