Campaign for Judgeship

Re Times endorsements, May 17.

Strikingly, while The Times endorses Deputy Public Defender Gary Windom for the Superior Court judgeship, it describes his far better qualified opponent, Chief Assistant Dist. Atty. Kevin McGee, in far more favorable terms, noting that Kevin McGee “has impeccable integrity and an impressive record as a prosecutor, administrator and, previously, in civil law.”

The Times, however, deplores the fact that about three-fourths of current Superior Court judges are former prosecutors while noting, as FBI statistics conclusively show, that Ventura County is one of the safest counties in the nation.

Kevin McGee, with whom I’ve worked for 16 of my 32 years in the district attorney’s office, is ideally suited by qualifications and temperament to be a judge for those of us--most of us--who want to see the crime rate continue to drop and Ventura County continue to be one of the safest in the nation.

The Times has long had an ultraliberal philosophy with respect to criminal law. Specifically, The Times has opposed the death penalty in [most] cases, opposed three-strikes laws and opposes Proposition 222, which would provide for life without parole for aggravated second-degree murders of police officers. (Prop. 222 was proposed by several of us in the Ventura district attorney’s office after the aggravated murder of a Simi Valley police officer three years ago.)

So it is understandable that The Times feels more comfortable philosophically with a deputy public defender who defends accused felons (though his campaign statement describes him as a criminal attorney and law professor but nowhere mentions that he is a deputy public defender).

I think the vast majority of citizens of Ventura County should and will conclude that, judging by both philosophy and qualifications, Kevin McGee is by far the best candidate for the Superior Court judgeship.

PETE KOSSORIS

Thousand Oaks

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I disagree with the reasoning behind your endorsement in the Superior Court election. This is a very important position and you have no better reason to support Gary Windom than the need for variety? This is ridiculous. You are selecting a judge, not a restaurant or prom queen.

ROBERT H. LAUNIUS

Channel Islands Harbor