D.A.’s Top Assistant Enters Race for Judgeship

Describing himself as a law-and-order candidate, Chief Assistant Dist. Atty. Kevin J. McGee declared Wednesday his candidacy for the Superior Court seat held by suspended Judge Robert Bradley, who checked himself into an alcohol-rehabilitation program last week.

McGee, 44, became the first person to officially enter the race to replace Bradley, a veteran jurist arrested twice in a month on suspicion of drunk driving then led from the courthouse one morning last week when he apparently came to work under the influence of alcohol.

A 16-year prosecutor and Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury’s top assistant since 1994, McGee comes to the race with the backing of the county’s top law enforcement officers--Bradbury, Sheriff Larry Carpenter and the chiefs of police in Oxnard, Ventura, Simi Valley and Santa Paula.

His campaign manager is Kevin White, the son of Superior Court Judge Colleen Toy White, who preceded McGee as the top assistant district attorney.

McGee said he has already received the unofficial support of several Superior Court judges.

“The career I’ve had for the last 16 years speaks to my pursuit of justice and protection of the rights of crime victims,” McGee said. “I think those are the values the people in Ventura County care about.”

Bradbury released a statement declaring his support and describing McGee as “an exceptional lawyer and prosecutor.”

“He will be a tremendous loss to this office,” Bradbury said. “But as a judge, we will all continue to benefit from his wisdom, courage, experience and unquestioned integrity.”

Bradley, 56, had declared himself a candidate for reelection the week after leaving a monthlong rehabilitation program. But on his seventh day back on the job he was suspended, and reentered a treatment program.

So far, the judge has not declared himself out of the race. His attorney, George Eskin, said Bradley is concentrating on getting well. Candidates for judgeships must declare their intention to run by Feb. 4 to appear on the June 2 ballot.

“All I know is that Judge Bradley is focusing on his treatment,” said Eskin, who spoke with Bradley recently. “I think this election is something he isn’t giving a second thought at the moment. His thoughts are entirely on getting well. And those who are treating him are emphasizing putting that ahead of all other considerations.”

Bradley will remain in treatment for “as long as it takes” to get well, Eskin said.

McGee said he still does not know for sure that Bradley will not be a candidate, but that he is in the race regardless.

“I don’t believe he’s going to run,” McGee said. “But if he does, I’m prepared for that. I’d just hope he would take the time to get his life in order.”

McGee said he believes he will need to spend $70,000 to $100,000 on the race, and has no money except his own in his campaign fund so far.

Two other veteran lawyers have said they may file for Bradley’s seat. Before Bradley was suspended, Public Defender Gary Windom said he might run. And family law attorney Cathleen Drury, who lost a 1996 race for a Superior Court seat, declared her interest in Bradley’s seat after the jurist was hospitalized again.

But neither has officially declared as candidates for the job, which pays $107,390 a year. Candidates must declare their intentions to run between Jan. 26 and Feb. 4.

Eskin described all three lawyers as solid candidates who are well-respected in their own specialties.

Civil lawyer Glen Reiser, who represents Dist. Atty. Bradbury’s office in lawsuits and Bradbury personally, had said he would seek Bradley’s seat in the June election if the 56-year-old judge does not run again.

But Reiser said he would support McGee if he entered the race. And now Reiser will serve as one of two co-chairmen for the McGee campaign, along with Michael Silver, a civil lawyer in the east county.

This year, nine judgeships are up for grabs and will be on the June ballot, if contested. They include four $107,390-a-year Superior Court positions and five Municipal Court posts, which pay $98,100 a year. There are 15 judges on the Superior Court and 12 on the Municipal Court.

Courthouse analysts expect eight of nine incumbents--all but Bradley--to seek reelection. Those are David Long, Charles Campbell and Ken Riley on the Superior Court, and Edward Brodie, Herbert Curtis III, John Dobroth, Barry Klopfer and Roland Purnell on the Municipal Court.